Andrew Lloyd Webber and Glenn Slater to collaborate on new stage version of THE WIZARD OF OZ- Page 2

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 5:48pm

This is so wrong. Please Mr. Webber--focus your efforts on the desperate act of reviving your career with a sequel to your own dreck and leave a classic alone!

[zepka102]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 6:17pm

I don't see anything about this on playbill.com. It would be great if it was an April Fools joke because I think we'd all believe this, but it's too late for those at this point.

My favorite part is still the end though... Liza being a judge hahahaha!

[gypsy4]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 6:45pm

Wizard of Oz is one shouldn't be touch maybe a couple script updates and some new musical arrangements but Lloyd webber has gone to far they should just mount a new revival of the original production. it's been put in to the wrong persons hands.

an Opening number? what does he want a big ensemble peice.

Updated On: 4/3/09 at 06:45 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 6:48pm

Please be a late April Fool's Day joke. Please please please. The Wizard of Oz doesn't need or deserve to be sent to ALW's abattoir.

[noradesmond]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 8:59pm

I think I'm going to cry. Or throw up. No, it's both.

[LotteTBS138]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 9:32pm

Wow, so I guess the Sondheim-Lloyd Webber war has ended thus creating the Schwartz-Lloyd Webber one!


>>^ I'd make it strike 3.

Aspects of Love
Woman in White
Phantom 2 <<

Well, be sure to include Whistle... and the Beautiful Game!

Updated On: 4/3/09 at 09:32 PM

[bwayguy22089]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 12:16am

Please make this not be true.

This is my favorite movie of all time. I thought the RSC adaptation was perfect, as was the 1998 National Tour (which used much of the RSC orchestrations and dialogue). Don't fix what isn't broken. If they're going to put on The Wizard of Oz, just revive the RSC version. It's practically flawless. This is totally unnecessary and I (I can't believe I'm saying this about a musical) want it to fail.

[Tag]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 1:03am

This is 100% true. I've heard it first hand.

[bwayguy22089]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 2:28am

Well hopefully it doesn't make the transfer to Broadway.

When this Harburg/Arlen musical makes it's Broadway premier, I want the real deal. I want the RSC version lol.

[bwayguy22089]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 2:30am

Also...

The Wizard of Oz does not hold the same place in Europe as it does here in America. A lot of people over there don't worship it the way we do. It may end up doing better over there because of this. However, unless it is completely spectacular, I doubt anyone would welcome it with open arms on Broadway.

[BwayLeadman]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 2:51am

Go Go Go Dorothy!

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 8:58am

The Wizard of Oz does not hold the same place in Europe as it does here in America. A lot of people over there don't worship it the way we do. It may end up doing better over there because of this. However, unless it is completely spectacular, I doubt anyone would welcome it with open arms on Broadway.

I wouldn't say that. It's still one of the most beloved movies of all time. It's performed with just about as much regularity there as it is here. They aren't as tied to the film's imagery as Americans, but it's still pretty big.

[jv92]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 9:45am

Can the Arlen and Harburg estates PLEASE STOP THIS!!!???

[Bodes08]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 10:28am

Mortgageguy, thank you so much for your Aunt Linda reference. haha. That made me smile.
And I also give this news a GAHHHH. :)

[Kad]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 10:39am

I don't understand how the Wizard and Witch not having musical numbers lessens the quality of the material. Not every principle character in a musical needs to sing. This musical has worked for 70 years without any major changes. It's one of the most beloved musicals of all time and is so deeply ingrained in American culture that it's ridiculous that ALW would even consider this project.

Maybe he should just retitle it I Want More Money from You Suckers.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 4:00pm

It wouldn't bother me so much if he just wanted to mount his own stage version as he did with The Sound of Music -- it's the adding songs thing that bothers me. And this quote in particular...

They attempt to do it exactly the same as in the movie. That's completely wrong! You've got to think of it as a theater piece, which just happens to have three or four of the greatest songs of all time."

I'd like to point out that when the Lord himself adapted a classic movie to the stage he stuck almost religiously close to Billy Wilder's screenplay, using a lot of the dialogue from the film and never deviating from the film's basic structure. Is that thinking of it as a theatre piece? The man is senile.

[TimeSquare3]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 4:08pm

Can the Arlen and Harburg estates PLEASE STOP THIS!!!???

Nope, the book is public domain.

[Kad]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 4:10pm

The book may be public domain but the movie and its songs aren't.

[jagfkb]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 5:00pm

I don't know. This could work out pretty well. I've always sort of wished there was some sort of song for Dorothy in the beginning which led up to Somewhere Over the Rainbow, though the Overture has to stay in it. Also, perhaps a less awkward finale? Though I know purists will hate me, but the scene with everyone surrounding Dorothy really deosn't work for me on a stage. The Witch could really benefit from a good comedic number inbetween meeting the Lion and Poppies, though if there is one, I hope it's not as awkward as Chitty's constant Act One interludes (NO GOONS). Regardless of the possibility of failure, it could work pretty well.

[Brick]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 6:47pm

Wow. Ego and greed.

[merriwether]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 7:37pm

Aspects of Love is actually one of the few ALW shows I can stand, but I agree that lately his track record has been not so good

[bwayguy22089]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 8:52pm

There's an opening to Over the Rainbow that wasn't in the movie but is actually quite beautiful. It was used in the RSC adaptation. Just leave that. Didn't MUNY adapt the movie back in the 50's to be more "theatrical"? Because, from what I hear, it is awful. Why repeat it?

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 8:58pm

The verse not in the movie was written in the 50s. It was never recorded by Judy.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 9:30pm

Do you happen to know who wrote it? I've always been curious as to who wrote the additional material that's not in the film. I know some of it was written by Arlen and Harburg and just didn't make it into the movie, but some things, like "Evening Star" from the MUNY version, I've never seen any credit taken for. Was it just a trunk song written by Harold Arlen or was it written by someone else?

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 4/4/09 at 9:35pm

I think the verses were Arlen/Harburg...don't hold me to that.

Evening Star is anyone's guess. It easily could have been a trunk song, or one that was just public domain music with new lyrics. I don't think it's an Arlen/Harburg, as the song doesn't blend with the others.