Details Emerge on ALW's THE WIZARD OF OZ

Set to star in Andrew Lloyd Webber's new production of THE WIZARD OF OZ are Michael Crawford as The Wizard and Danielle Hope, the winner of the BBC's smash hit Over The Rainbow, when the show opens at the London Palladium next year.

Variety has the first scoop from Jeremy Sams, who is directing and who has re-written the book. Sams tells the publication that: 

"I love the movie," says Sams, "but previous productions have tried to put that onstage, in some cases right down to the tiniest detail. But it seems to me, the closer you get to the original the more you're faced with the question of, why are you doing this? Why not just give audiences the DVD?"

Sams will use the entire Arlen/Harburg score and reconceive the piece as a theatrically satisfying two-act stage tuner with additional songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.

"Musicals usually have an opening number in which people sing and set the tone followed by an 'I want' song," the helmer explains. "With 'Over the Rainbow,' we have the best 'I want' song of all time, but it seems wrong to me to start with that. So now we have an opening number."

Sams has also created the structure for an old-fashioned 11 o'clock number for Glinda and a major second-act opener for the Wicked Witch and her Winkies."

This new production,produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Bill Kenwright,contains all the much-loved songs from the Oscar-winning movie score including; Over the Rainbow, Follow the Yellow Brick Road, If I Only Had a Heart and We're Off to See the Wizard. All the favourite characters and iconic scenes are there, plus a few surprises along the way - not just "lions and tigers and bears" but some new songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice adding extra colour to the story as it moves from film to stage, as well as marking the first time they have worked together in over 30 years on a new production. Audiences will be captivated as The London Palladium is transformed into the mythical Emerald City with breathtaking special effects and scenery to bring to life the real story of Oz.

The London Palladium, arguably the world's most famous theatre and this year celebrating its 100th birthday, is a great favourite with performers and audiences alike and has a very rich entertainment history presenting variety, pantomime and spectacular family musicals. Just one aspect of the elaborate stage design for The Wizard of Oz will be a restoration of the legendary revolving stage which everyone remembers from the finale of Television's Sunday Night at the London Palladium.

The Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum is directed by Jeremy Sams, choreographed by Arlene Phillips, music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E Y Harburg, with additional music and lyrics by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice with the set and costumes designed by Rob Jones.

Tickets are available from The London Palladium Box Office on 0844 412 2957or online from www.wizardofozthemusical.com