Andrew Lloyd Webber and Glenn Slater to collaborate on new stage version of THE WIZARD OF OZ

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 2:30pm

"So, Mr. Lloyd Webber, you're on your way to the premiere of your completely-pointless Phantom of the Opera sequel (that should really be something!), and, even without that, you've still got more money than Jesus himself! What are you gonna do now?"
"I'm gonna do a new version of The Wizard of Oz!"
(pause)
(BAM!)

http://www.broadway.com/Andrew-Lloyd-Webber-Follows-the-Yellow-Brick-Road-to-New-Version-of-The-Wizard-of-Oz/broadway_news/5024664

Updated On: 4/3/09 at 02:30 PM

[mortgageguy79]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 2:34pm

Will the Phantom make a special appearance? I am thinking perhaps as a flying monkey? This news deserves an "OH CRIPES" and a big fat "OH BROTHER!" :)

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 2:34pm

This is so unnecessary.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 2:35pm

This means war, ALW, this means war.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 3:02pm

Ok, I'm still declaring war, but the inital reactions I have:

1) Glenn Slater? Really? Because he did such a bang up job of imitating Howard Ashman in "The Little Mermaid."

2) Will he write the Arlen/Harburg/Tin Pan Alley style? Because if not, it'll be like "Mary Poppins" where the old and new songs don't really mesh.

3) Why is this needed? What on earth makes him think this si a very good idea?

4) Why not write his OWN adaptation?

Updated On: 4/3/09 at 03:02 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 3:09pm

1) Glenn Slater? Really? Because he did such a bang up job of imitating Alan Menken in "The Little Mermaid."

Or, you know, Howard Ashman. I agree with you, but... yeah.

Updated On: 4/3/09 at 03:09 PM

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 3:20pm

^ I always get those two mixed up...I can never remember which is which.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 3:22pm

Well, one of them is alive and the other is... not.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 3:23pm

^ Right, it's just remember which is and which isn't. I need a neumonic (Sp?) device.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 3:25pm

Heh, I would be amused if you came up with one.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 3:29pm

Well, aside from a really morbid, obvious one, I'm not coming up with anything.

[musicalfandukie]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 3:30pm

I like the idea but i don't think Webber can write new songs that would blend and fit in with the songs from the original movie. His writing style is so far from the movies music. I just don't see it working. Maybe they can add a scene with dancing CATS!!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 3:30pm

Gross!

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 3:34pm

Strike two, ALW.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 3:36pm

^ I'd make it strike 3.

Aspects of Love
Woman in White
Phantom 2

[AEF710]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 3:45pm

The man has gone and LOST HIS DAMN MIND.

[toanythingtaboo 2]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 3:51pm

Surely this is just him trying to jump on the success of Wicked?

I heard word that he was planning on searching for Dorothy on another BBC Reality Show too.

Great.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 3:53pm

^ Rumor, and also rumor for Liza to be a judge...granted I might watch that. More than likely it'll be Lorna, she likes to capitalize on Mommy's fame more than Liza does. (And I love Lorna)

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 3:58pm

On the plus side, Slater's lyrics for the Wizard of Oz should be pretty darn hilarious.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 4:12pm

^ Unintentionally so.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 4:19pm

Actually Liz Smith reported the death of Alan Menkin a few years ago.

[philly03]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 4:25pm

"3) Why is this needed? What on earth makes him think this si a very good idea?
"

Lloyd Webber's been out of ideas for years - Woman in White wasn't even his idea from the start (although he probably fixed/adjusted some the plot/whatever). It was stemmed from some sort of contest in which Lloyd Webber said he wanted to see what the people (of the UK) wanted as his next musical.

(For the record I do love Woman in White !)

I think Frank Wildhorn should loan him some of the ideas he's got up in his arsenal!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 4:40pm

"The Wizard doesn't have a number of his own, for instance."

How about "The Merry Old Land of Oz"? Sure, it's not sung by the Wizard himself, but it's usually sung by the actor playing the Wizard.

"It doesn't have an opening number," says Slater.

I'll give you that, but the Overture is one of the most recognizable Overtures ever and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" isn't really such a terrible way to start things off.

"It doesn't have a song for the Witch."

The Madison Square Garden production solved that problem with a brilliant rendition of "The Jitterbug" by the late Eartha Kitt. Do some research Slater.

"It's missing what it needs to become an actual theatrical piece."

Well, obviously it's always going to be slightly flawed since it wasn't actually written for the stage, but it's a lot better as is than a lot of other shows currently playing in the West End.
Updated On: 4/3/09 at 04:40 PM

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 4:44pm

CatsNYRevival-
For once, I agree with you.

The thing is, you don't need an opening number. My Fair Lady goes 10 pages almost without one. There's no real way to work out an opening number...it doesn't require one.

I wouldn't mind if he were adding songs as long as it was appropriate. But the story is really only 90 minutes long, and it's only missing a number post-Witchmelt, and the "Ding! Dong!" reprise is perfectly fine for it.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 4:58pm

I've come to believe every generation gets the Wizard of Oz it deserves.