Why hasn't The Wizard of Oz appeared more on Broadway?

The Wizard of Oz is such an American cultural institution as a novel and a film - why hasn't it had a presence on Broadway in the way that it has in London? There was the famous Royal Shakespeare Company adaptation/production in the 1980s that is now licensed to amateur companies and continues to be performed in this version, but there was also the Andrew Lloyd Webber version that appeared in London in the 2010s featuring a leading lady cast on TV. There is now also a new touring version that started regionally in England, then made its way to London, and finally on tour... Why hasn't the show appeared more on Broadway in the last 50 years?

Musicaldudepeter said: "The Wizard of Oz is such an American cultural institution as a noveland a film - why hasn't it had a presence on Broadway in the way that it has in London? There was the famous Royal Shakespeare Company adaptation/production in the 1980s that is now licensed to amateur companies and continues to be performed in this version, but there was also the Andrew Lloyd Webber version that appeared in London in the 2010s featuring a leading lady cast on TV. There is now also a new touring version that started regionally in England, then made its way to London, and finally on tour... Why hasn't the show appeared more on Broadway in the last 50 years?"



Is there some reason you do not count THE WIZ ?

Wait 10ish years when the film will be public domain.

The original RSC production was absolutely stunning. It had its own aesthetic, relying on NOTHING from the film visually, though its used its script in expanded form and the film orchestration (adapted). The visuals were based on the original novel illustrations, and were really gorgeous. But the current version is definitely relying on panto techniques and is so unbelievably cheap. I'm just wondering why such an American artistic property has not been exploited on Broadway in the way it has on stage in the UK - I'm glad it hasn't! The film, as one poster said, is perfect, and it should remain so.

Reading the Wikipedia page for 1902 musical adaptation is like a fever dream. I wish someone would revive that.

I think the reason Wicked and The Wiz are big money makers is because it takes a story we already know and shows us something different. We all know the movie by heart in America and don’t want to pay money to watch someone do their best Judy Garland impression.
that being said, at least in my neck of the country, the wizard of oz is done a lot in high schools and community theatres, I’m not sure which version gets produced the most, but I think it also hurts how many licensed versions there are out there. It’s become a very muddled title.


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jacobsnchz14 said: "Actually surprised ALW’s adaptation of The Wizard of Oz never actually made it to Broadway."

Having seen it...I am not surprised.

Because Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Margaret Hamilton, Billie Burke, and Frank Morgan, that’s why.