Wizard of Oz- Page 2

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 11/30/04 at 3:44pm

This has been discussed before and I said then that it is one of my dreams to mount the arlen/harburg wizard of oz on Broadway. It was meant to be on stage. I feel that the book needs some tweaking some of it will work but the crows for example calling the scarecrow a stuffed shirt, and how he's "stuck up"... yeah, we need some new jokes, but overall I think most of it will do. I guess I'd have to do it in partnership with MSG because I love some of the things they did having the witch sing the beginning of "The Jitterbug" and so on ... inspired. but, as for trimming it down ... no. I didn't like that. I love the entr'acte and the dance for "Merry Old Land of Oz" and such so everything they cut, I'd like reinstated for a Broadway run. and I like a lot of the original London designs for the show so I definitely want to take a closer look at all of that. I'm also currently on the hunt for an Arlen/Harburg trunk song because I'd love to put in an additional musical moment between Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and the Lion after the scene in the Wizard's Chamber. And I'd like to use "Ding Dong Emerald City" which was cut from the film ... ugh... I have too many ideas. I need to get organized.

[jmaclover]

Posted: 11/30/04 at 4:09pm

Cats, I agree.

Besides Jitterbug, I think the Wicked Witch should have her own song. She's always been my favorite (which is said a lot nowadays, but she is - forget Elphaba - good girls suck! lol, ok, w/e)

I would love to mount WoO on bway - the Wiz is coming back son that's gonna hurt it.

I dunno why, but I think that Auntie Em should have a song as well as Glinda (other than come out, come out) - Though the actress is usually they same.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 11/30/04 at 4:24pm

ah, well, you're in luck. my script already has an outline of a scene between Aunt Em and Dorothy just before Toto comes back that has Aunt Em consoling Dorothy and they talk about how Dorothy had the measles once and Aunt Em was by her side the whole time blah, blah, blah and then Aunt Em sings a bit of a lullaby that is I guess is a bit of a pre-reprise then of the whole "There's a garden spot, I'm told where it's never too hot and it's never too cold" etc. etc...

I don't know if I'll keep it, it's just an idea that popped up during brainstorming...

[xluckystar2107x]

Posted: 11/30/04 at 5:12pm

oh what a world what a world!!

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 11/30/04 at 5:40pm

Ok, dumb question:

I know that Wizard of Oz yall are referring to is not related to the movie...right?

I don't think I'm familiar with it though...is there more than one?

I saw I high school production and the main song was something "There's a Light in the Distance"

Is this the same bway musical?

[jmaclover]

Posted: 11/30/04 at 6:24pm

THeres the RSC (Royal Shakespeare company) and MGM




Here's the difference

[kates]

Posted: 11/30/04 at 9:56pm

I was in a touring version of it a long time ago...Kelly Rabke? played Dorothy...it did pretty badly financially.

[jmaclover]

Posted: 11/30/04 at 9:59pm

Well the movie cursed it.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 12/1/04 at 12:30am

kates,
that was the Musicals America tour, right?? With the giant puppets as the Lollipop Guild?

Kelli also did Dorthy at Paper will and Walnut Street.

[kates]

Posted: 12/1/04 at 1:03am

broadway guy, I honestly don't remember if that was the name of the tour...if I can dig out my jacket or other memorobilia I might have the year...but the one I was in used little boys as the Lollipop Guild? Well sorta, there were boys dancing on stage, but adult women singing the part off stage. Same for the Lullaby Ballerinas. But no puppets!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 12/1/04 at 1:06am

hmmm......

There was a production in the early 90s that toured from musicals America in Rhode Island that used large puppets as the Lollipop Guild. I saw that tour..

I also saw the 89-90 arena tour that bombed. It had prerecorded audio...

I've seen numerous OZ tours.. I may have seen the one you did.

[Derek]

Posted: 12/1/04 at 9:48pm

Well, similar to CATSNY, I too wish to direct and co-produce The Wizard of Oz for the Broadway stage. He and I have even discussed directing it together. I think its the kind of show that would make pretty much just about everyone happy. Everyone loves the songs. The amount of creativity that could be put in the show is amazing. I think what would make the show great is by incorperating themes from the original 87 and 88 London production, the 98 tour and the original 39 movie. I'm sure somewhere out there, there is someone that could portray Dorothy. However, I feel it should be just a regular, average girl. Not a big celebrity. I think songs like the Jitterbug would make great showstoppers! I really hope I can do this lol.

[Necromancer07707]

Posted: 12/1/04 at 10:06pm

I participated in a twisted non-professional version of Wizard of Oz. See how you like these changes...

L. Frank Baum, as a writer and narrator, participates in the story and interacts with the heroes.
The opening scene is actually black and white, costuming, makeup, set and all.
The wicked witch is a wicked warlock, and sings "No Bad News" from the Wiz.
The flying monkeys are on roller blades, with ramps all around the stage.
Toto turns into a half dog half boy when they get to Oz and joins with the heroes (and has a rap).
Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, has a southern accent.
After the witch dies, instead of Ding Dong, the Witch is Dead, they sing "Brand New Day" from the Wiz.

One of my favorite moments was when they finally faced the warlock. The warlock, knowing that this was a story that Baum was construing, made sure that no water, cauldrons, or buckets were near. Baum smiled, and with a gesture said "No imagination?" From behind a platform a crew person wearing all black (with a black mask) popped up with a super soaker and shot the warlock.

Those were some of the many changes... Some addicts of the original version were a bit stubborn at first, but were won over by the end of the show.

[Idina's BIGGEST fan]

Posted: 12/1/04 at 10:08pm

it may do good, but people won't feel the same way because of WICKED, I think.

[jmaclover]

Posted: 12/1/04 at 10:13pm

NEcromancer - I enjoyed that.

When I was in France doing shows - same group that did Les Mis - we did Wizard of Oz. Obvioulsy, it's not as big over there. We had L. Frank Baum writing it and the Wizard of oz scenes took place around him. Then occasionally he would say a line, instead of one of the characeters.

It was basically a show about Baum writing the wizard of oz.