ALW writes 6 new songs for WIZARD OF OZ...- Page 2

[bwayguy22089]

Posted: 9/19/09 at 8:56pm

It better not transfer. Americans are the biggest fans of that movie and any major changes or additions will bug the crap out of them. It will run maybe a little bit longer than Woman in White.

[musikman]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 12:21pm

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

This reminds me of when I went to the CSO a few years ago to see them play the Brahms Requiem ( a pretty perfect piece of music), and they decided to inject it with this horrible modern composition between each movement of the requiem that was supposedly "honoring" and paying homage to the piece.

[EugLoven]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 12:42pm

Im surprised no one is touching on the fact this BBC show is aiming to cast both Dorothy AND TOTO???? So half of the broadcast is going to a Dog Talent Show?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 1:01pm

Can't someone throw a pail of water on him?

[bwayguy22089]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 1:07pm

Hopefully he'll either learn from Phantom 2 (if it flops) or be too preoccupied with it (if it's a hit) to continue with his awful, unnecessary idea.

[bwayguy22089]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 1:07pm

Hopefully he'll either learn from Phantom 2 (if it flops) or be too preoccupied with it (if it's a hit) to continue with his awful, unnecessary idea.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 2:53pm

Hopefully all six songs will get cut during previews and we'll end up with a big budget Wizard of Oz with the original score intact. I wouldn't mind seeing that kind of production.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 3:14pm

Can't he just do his own Wizard of Oz? Why does he have to "improve" on the original?

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 5:02pm

When I first heard about ALW doing a Wizard of Oz musical (which we've now learned is basically him 'adding' to the Wizard Of OZ), I thought it was his way of competing with Wicked.

[Sally]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 7:43pm

This is what he said about the songs he was adding:

For the West End production, Lord Lloyd Webber and lyricist Glenn Slater will also write new songs to complement classics from the original film such as Over the Rainbow. "We are going to write an opening number, and there is no song for the wizard," said Lord Lloyd Webber. "There isn't really anything for the wicked witch - pretty obvious holes."

UK TELEGRAPH STORY

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 7:47pm

You the wizard of all of 10 minutes. Does he really need a song? It's not like he is a complex character like he is in Wicked.

[Pgenre]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 7:48pm

Look at what a winner "Wonderful" is!

P

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 7:53pm

I actually like 'Wonderful'.

I would love to see a big tap dancing within an array of grinding chorus boys.

[bwayguy22089]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 10:06pm

So cast the Wizard as the guard too (like the movie) and have him sing "Merry Old Land of Oz". Have the witch sing the opening to "The Jitterbug", like the 1998 National Tour.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/20/09 at 10:38pm

ALW writes 6 new songs for WIZARD OF OZ...

Really. Does he have to?

[landryjames2]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 10:42am

The Wizard of Oz is my number one love in life.

That being said, in THEORY--ALW is not wrong. Traditionally, Oz on stage has never been anything but horrid. In general, I would rather pay $100 to just watch the beyond brilliant movie, than to watch another poor attempt of putting the MGM musical on stage. At least, Lloyd Webber is trying to make it for the stage in a way that hasn't been done before (whether you dislike him or not, or find it mortifying that he might crap on an already perfect score. But again--it's a perfect score for a movie-- Never been done well on stage).

[Justin D]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 11:05am

I dont really like the idea of adding to the show, but I am wondering if there would be the same kind of backlash if it were Sondheim adding the new songs.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 11:10am

Sondheim would have politely declined the offer.

[Pgenre]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 12:28pm

You can say THAT again! SJS is no fool!

P

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 12:34pm

Why not write 10 new songs instead of 6 and have a completely new adaptation that he doesn't have to share royalties on.

[HollyGolightly2]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 2:00pm

Wouldn't a more accurate title for this thread be "ALW writes 1 new song for WIZARD OF OZ..."? If even that many?
Updated On: 9/21/09 at 02:00 PM

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 2:13pm

Waaa Waaa Cries Cries Boo Hoo Boo Hoo

I understand if they were redoing the movie and people were up in arms about it, but didn't the stage show have new songs that are not in the movie like "Optimistic Voices?" I honestly don't know. Either way....it's just like when people do revivals and add songs from other musicals of the composer's work. "State Fair" did this along with a few others. I know ALW did not write the original songs, but you catch my drift. Also, if Sondheim was doing this there would be constant orgasms across the nation. And we have no clue if he would "politely decline."

But that's all I'm saying. Please continue the bitching.

[landryjames2]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 2:48pm

In regards to Michael Bennett's post--completely new adaptations of The Wizard of Oz are tricky because one does expect (or want) to hear Over the Rainbow, The If I Only Had A songs, and Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead when they go see Oz no matter what the format. That's why I am trying not to be as against this idea as I am inclined to lean.

Oh, and Optimistic Voices is in the movie.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 3:07pm

Landry, I disagree. Nobody expected to hear "Over the Rainbow" in THE WIZ and nobody misses musical homages to the MGM film in WICKED.

Andrew Lloyd Webber certainly has the name recognition to be able to generate plenty of interest in a completely original adaptation of THE WIZARD OF OZ should he feel compelled to write a completely original score.

[landryjames2]

Posted: 9/21/09 at 3:21pm

Perhaps you're right. I do think that Wicked and The Wiz were/are different things altogether as they are Oz but not in the "traditional" sense. If you are presenting the classic children's story and calling it The Wizard of Oz, I still think people will want the SONGS (MGM).

Sidenote--I did see a traveling production of The Wizard of Oz many years ago that had completely new music. I don't remember any of the songs except Auntie Em's first song which was Soup's On. I kind of liked it. Of course, Dorothy's "song" in the show had the word "Rainbow" in it which I thought was cheap.

But, again, Michael--you could be right.
Updated On: 9/21/09 at 03:21 PM