The Wonderful Wizard of Oz () is an American children's novel written by author L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W.W. Denslow, originally published by the George M. Hill Company in May 1900. It has since seen several reprints, most often under the title The Wizard of Oz, which is the title of the popular 1902 Broadway musical adaptation as well as the iconic 1939 live-action film. The story chronicles the adventures of a young farm girl named Dorothy in the magical Land of Oz, after she and her pet dog Toto are swept away from their Kansas home by a cyclone.
Introduction
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz | Introduction
It chronicles the adventures of a young farm girl named Dorothy in the magical Land of Oz, after she and her pet dog Toto are swept away from their Kansas home by a cyclone. The story chronicles the adventures of a young farm girl named Dorothy in the magical Land of Oz, after she and her pet dog Toto are swept away from their Kansas home by a cyclone. It is told from the perspective of the witches of the Land of Oz; its plot begins before and continues after Dorothy Gale arrives in Oz from Kansas. The musical is told from the perspective of the witches of the Land of Oz; its plot begins before and continues after Dorothy Gale arrives in Oz from Kansas, and includes several references to the 1939 film and Baum's novel.
who has played fiyero in wicked on broadway
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Norbert Leo Butz
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who composed the lyrics for this musical?
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Stephen Schwartz
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is this musical adapted from a story?
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Yes, it is based on a novel by Gregory Maguire, which is a retelling of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum.
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what is this story about?
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The Wizard of Oz was a 1902 musical extravaganza based on the 1900 novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum. Much of the original music was by Paul Tietjens and has been mostly forgotten, although it was still well-remembered and in discussion at MGM in 1939 when the classic film version of the story was made. Although Baum is the credited bookwriter, Glen MacDonough was hired on as jokewriter after Baum had finished the script. The show premiered at the Chicago Grand Opera House on June 16, 1902 and later moved to the Majestic Theatre on Broadway on January 21, 1903, where it ran for 293 performances until December 31, 1904, followed by traveling tours of the original cast.
The Wizard of Oz (1902 musical) | Introduction
The Wizard of Oz is a musical commissioned by the St. Louis Municipal Opera (The Muny) based on the 1900 novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum and the 1939 film, "The Wizard of Oz" and using the film's songs by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg. The book of the musical is by Frank Gabrielson, who would later write an adaptation of "The Marvelous Land of Oz" for Shirley Temple (1960). The musical was first presented in 1942 at The Muny and has been revived many times thereafter, both by The Muny and by other companies.
The Wizard of Oz (1942 musical) | Introduction
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a 2000 musical play based on the 1900 novel of the same title by L. Frank Baum that premiered at the Toronto Civic Light Opera Company. The lyrics are by James Patrick Doyle and Joe Cascone, the music is by Doyle and the book is by Cascone who also directed. This company describes the show as the most requested in their repertory, and revived it in 2002 and again in 2010.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (musical) | Introduction
The Wizard of Oz is a musical with a book by John Kane, music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg. It has additional background music by Herbert Stothart. It is based on the 1900 novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum and the 1939 film version written by Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf. Successful musicals based on the Baum novel were created in 1902 (for Broadway) and 1942 (for St. Louis Municipal Opera), the latter of which, using songs from the popular 1939 film, is still frequently revived. Seeking to more closely recreate the 1939 film on stage, the Royal Shakespeare Company adapted the film's screenplay, also using the songs from the film, and produced a new version at London's Barbican Centre in 1987.
The Wizard of Oz (1987 musical) | Introduction
L. Frank Baum decided to collaborate with his friend, composer Paul Tietjens, and "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" illustrator W. W. Denslow as set and costume designer, to bring the book to the stage. They completed a script, score and designs in 1901, hewing fairly close to the novel. They submitted the package to the manager of the Chicago Grand Opera House, Fred R. Hamlin, who liked it and approached Julian Mitchell to be director. Mitchell did not like the script, criticizing its lack of spectacle, calling it too subdued and small-scale. However, he sent a wire to Hamlin with the message "Can see possibilities for extravaganza".
The Wizard of Oz (1902 musical) | Conception and script
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz () is an American children's novel written by author L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W.W. Denslow, originally published by the George M. Hill Company in May 1900. It has since seen several reprints, most often under the title The Wizard of Oz, which is the title of the popular 1902 Broadway musical adaptation as well as the iconic 1939 live-action film. The story chronicles the adventures of a young farm girl named Dorothy in the magical Land of Oz, after she and her pet dog Toto are swept away from their Kansas home by a cyclone.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz | Introduction
The book is one of the best-known stories in American literature and has been widely translated. The Library of Congress has declared it "America's greatest and best-loved homegrown fairytale." Its groundbreaking success and the success of the Broadway musical adapted from the novel led Baum to write thirteen additional Oz books that serve as official sequels to the first story. In January 1901, George M. Hill Company completed printing the first edition, a total of 10,000 copies, which quickly sold out. It had sold three million copies by the time it entered the public domain in 1956.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz | Introduction
They discern great gaps in the original story that are probably never noticed by playgoers." He admitted to protesting several innovations, but ultimately concluded: "The people will have what pleases them, and not what the author happens to favor, and I believe that one of the reasons why Julian Mitchell is regarded as a great producer is that he faithfully tries to serve the great mass of playgoers – and usually succeeds." Most of the original songs were written by Paul Tietjens on Baum's lyrics, except for three: "The Guardian of the Gate" (although it was attributed to Tietjens), which was cut after only a few performances, "The Different Ways of Making Love" (wooing) and "It Happens Every Day" were composed by Nathaniel D.
The Wizard of Oz (1902 musical) | Production and early revivals
In the novel, the Scarecrow's question is a statement to which Glinda has no response in this regard.
The Marvelous Land of Oz (musical) | Adaptation
"The Wizard of Oz" was first turned into a musical extravaganza by L. Frank Baum himself. A loose adaptation of Baum's 1900 novel (there is no Wicked Witch or Toto, and there are some new characters), it first played in Chicago in 1902 and was a success on Broadway the following year. It then toured for seven years. The 1939 film adaptation bore a closer resemblance to the storyline of Baum's original novel than most previous versions. It was a strong success, won the Academy Awards for best song and best score, and has been frequently broadcast on television. This was followed, in 1942, by a musical theatre adaptation presented at the St.
The Wizard of Oz (1987 musical) | History
His favorite story since he was six is "The Wizard of Oz", later he would create "Oz, the Musical", based on the book, an entire homage to the film, "The Wizard of Ahhhs" featuring the pop a cappella quintet Pentatonix, and his visual album and tour "Straight Out of Oz". Hall also has an arm full of tattoos devoted to the story, and one on the back of his neck that is a patch with "Made in Oz". He loved watching the Walt Disney parade at Christmastime, he learned to dance by recording to VHS tape, and replay to teach himself the choreography.
Todrick Hall | Early life and education
It is unclear how much control or influence Baum had on the script; it appears that many of the changes were written by Baum against his wishes due to contractual requirements with Hamlin. Jokes in the script, mostly written by Glen MacDonough, called for explicit references to President Theodore Roosevelt, Senator Mark Hanna, Rev. Andrew Danquer, and oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller. Although use of the script was rather free-form, the line about Hanna was ordered dropped as soon as Hamlin got word of his death in 1904. Beginning with the success of the stage version, most subsequent versions of the story, including newer editions of the novel, have been titled "The Wizard of Oz", rather than using the full, original title.
L. Frank Baum | "The Wizard of Oz: Fred R. Hamlin's Musical Extravaganza"
The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical "Wonderful Wizard of Oz" is a musical with music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls (and others) and book by William F. Brown. It is a retelling of L. Frank Baum's children's novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" (1900) in the context of contemporary African-American culture. It opened on October 21, 1974, at the Morris A. Mechanic Theatre in Baltimore, and moved to Broadway's Majestic Theatre with a new cast on January 5, 1975. The 1975 Broadway production won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. It was an early example of Broadway's mainstream acceptance of works with an all-black cast.
The Wiz | Introduction
Wicked is a Broadway musical by Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman. It is based on the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel "", itself a retelling of the classic 1900 novel, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum and the 1939 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film "The Wizard of Oz". The musical is told from the perspective of the witches of the Land of Oz; its plot begins before and continues after Dorothy Gale arrives in Oz from Kansas, and includes several references to the 1939 film and Baum's novel. "Wicked" tells the story of two unlikely friends, Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) and Galinda (whose name later changes to Glinda the Good Witch), who struggle through opposing personalities and viewpoints, rivalry over the same love-interest, reactions to the Wizard's corrupt government, and, ultimately, Elphaba's private fall from grace.
Wicked (musical) | Introduction
Joe Cascone, artistic director of the Toronto Civic Light Opera Company, had long wanted to stage a musical of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" that was truer to Baum's original intentions, and as such, was able to incorporate various influences from the many adaptations of the story produced throughout the 20th century, including the original 1903 musical, the famous 1939 MGM film, the musical "The Wiz" and several others. In writing the libretto for the new musical, Cascone made Baum a character in the play as a narrator, also doubling as the Wizard. Composer and lyricist James Patrick Doyle was a long time Oz admirer who restored some of the music from Baum's "The Maid of Arran", the 1902 "Wizard", "The Woggle-Bug", "The Tik-Tok Man of Oz", "Prince Silverwings", and "The Patchwork Girl of Oz", which had not been heard in recent decades.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (musical) | Background
"The Wizard of Oz" was first turned into a musical extravaganza by L. Frank Baum himself. It was a loose adaptation of Baum's 1900 novel that had no Wicked Witch, Toto, magic slippers or yellow brick road, but had several new characters and subplots. It first played in Chicago in 1902 and was a success on Broadway the following year. It then toured for seven years. Other early stage and film adaptations and versions of the novel followed, including a 1925 film. The 1939 film adaptation of the novel bore a closer resemblance to the novel's storyline than previous versions.
The Wizard of Oz (1942 musical) | Background
Louis Municipal Opera (MUNY). The script was adapted by Frank Gabrielson from the novel, but it is influenced in some respects by the motion picture script and uses most of the songs from the film. A new song was added for Dorothy to sing in the Emerald City, called "Evening Star", and the Wizard goes home in a rocketship instead of a hot air balloon. The MUNY version continues to receive frequent revivals. According to Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) director Ian Judge, the company's 1987 adaptation "came about when Terry Hands, artistic director of the company, asked for a show that could be performed annually over the Christmas season, as a revival of J.
The Wizard of Oz (1987 musical) | History
"The Wizard of Oz" was first turned into a musical extravaganza by Baum himself. A loose adaptation of his 1900 novel (there is no Wicked Witch or Toto, and there are some new characters), it first played in Chicago in 1902 and was a success on Broadway the following year. It then toured for nine years. The 1939 film adaptation bore a closer resemblance to the storyline of Baum's original novel than most previous versions. It was a strong success, winning the Academy Awards for Best Original Song and Original Score, and continues to be broadcast perennially. Among the many musical theatre adaptations of "The Wizard of Oz", two previous ones have used the songs from the film.
The Wizard of Oz (2011 musical) | Background
The Wizard of Oz is a 2011 musical based on the 1939 film of the same name, with a book adapted by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jeremy Sams. The musical uses the Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg songs from the film and includes some new songs and additional music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and additional lyrics by Tim Rice. After previews in the West End from 7 February, the musical opened on 1 March 2011, directed by Jeremy Sams, and closed on 2 September 2012. The original cast included Danielle Hope as Dorothy Gale, Michael Crawford as the Wizard and Hannah Waddingham as the Wicked Witch of the West.
The Wizard of Oz (2011 musical) | Introduction
She runs away from the farm and meets Professor Marvel, who tells her all about ("The Wonders of the World"). They are interrupted by a twister, and Dorothy runs home for shelter. Inside the farmhouse, she bangs her head on the bedside. The house is borne away by the storm.
The Wizard of Oz (2011 musical) | Leicester (2021–2022)
The series features stories derived from characters created in L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz". Several characters are given additional names, including Dandy the Cowardly Lion, Rusty the Tin Man, and Socrates the Scarecrow. In this adaptation, rather than being dropped by a tornado, Dorothy and Toto are blown in from Kansas through a hole cut out of the landscape. Each episode is a brief vignette about an adventure that the characters are involved in, often centering around the Wizard's attempts to fulfill the characters' wishes. Artistic renditions of the Oz characters created for this series were later featured in the hour-long television special "Return to Oz".
Tales of the Wizard of Oz | Summary
This stage adaptation omits the Wicked Witch's scene of threatening Dorothy, Scarecrow and Tin Man while being on top of the Tin Man's wooden cottage following this musical number.
The Wizard of Oz in Concert: Dreams Come True | Production
A young girl, Dorothy Gale, lives on a farm in Kansas with her Aunt Em, Uncle Henry and little dog, Toto. Feeling unappreciated, she dreams of a far away place ("Over the Rainbow"). Miss Gulch, their unpleasant neighbor, serves Dorothy with a summons to take Toto away. He escapes from her bicycle basket, and Dorothy runs away from home with him. On the road, they find a showman, Professor Marvel, who urges her to return to the farm. Dorothy arrives home just as a tornado touches down. She and Toto are locked out of the storm cellar. In her house, she is accidentally hit on the head by a window.
The Wizard of Oz (1987 musical) | History
A great commotion breaks out, with the Wizard escaping in a hot air balloon. Dorothy, still longing to get home, sets off with her companions to the castle of Glinda, the Good Witch of the South.
The Wizard of Oz (1902 musical) | Act Two: The Emerald City
Two years after "Wizard" publication, Baum and Denslow teamed up with composer Paul Tietjens and director Julian Mitchell to produce a musical stage version of the book under Fred R. Hamlin. Baum and Tietjens had worked on a musical of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" in 1901 and based closely upon the book, but it was rejected. This stage version opened in Chicago in 1902 (the first to use the shortened title "The Wizard of Oz"), then ran on Broadway for 293 stage nights from January to October 1903. It returned to Broadway in 1904, where it played from March to May and again from November to December.
L. Frank Baum | "The Wizard of Oz: Fred R. Hamlin's Musical Extravaganza"
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a 1910 American silent fantasy film and the earliest surviving film version of L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz", made by the Selig Polyscope Company without Baum's direct input. It was created to fulfill a contractual obligation associated with Baum's personal bankruptcy caused by "The Fairylogue and Radio-Plays", from which it was once thought to have been derived. It was partly based on the 1902 stage musical "The Wizard of Oz", though much of the film deals with the Wicked Witch of the West, who does not appear in the musical.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1910 film) | Introduction
Finally taken to see the fearsome Wizard, the four friends are given a quest to prove themselves worthy of his assistance: they must bring him the broomstick of the Wicked Witch of the West, and the only way to do that would be to kill her.
The Wizard of Oz (1987 musical) | Synopsis
The production consists of an abbreviated script and highlights most songs and musical numbers from the movie. The most notable difference is Uncle Henry and the three farmhands do not appear in this production, but Joel Grey who narrates the Kansas scenes in his role of Professor Marvel and Debra Winger's "Cyclone" narration both mention Miss Gulch. The concert begins with Jewel as Dorothy Gale singing the complete version of "Over the Rainbow". The concert also includes the song "The Jitterbug", which was cut from the original film. Throughout the entire concert, the conductor and orchestra are featured on-stage with the performers.
The Wizard of Oz in Concert: Dreams Come True | Production
The three friends meet a lion who lacks courage, and they invite him to join them. When the jitterbugs attack, Dorothy appeals to the Sorceress of the North, who freezes the jitterbugs ("The Jitterbug").
The Wizard of Oz (1942 musical) | Act I
Little Wizard Stories of Oz is a set of six short stories written for young children by L. Frank Baum, the creator of the Oz books. The six tales were published in separate small booklets, "Oz books in miniature," in 1913, and then in a collected edition in 1914 with illustrations by John R. Neill. Each booklet is 29 pages long, and printed in blue ink rather than black.
Little Wizard Stories of Oz | Introduction
"The New York Times" critic described the show as "the Darling of Mr. Belasco's Gods". Leone Langdon-Key loved the scenery, but found Baum's script commonplace, commenting that many lines start with, "Well, wouldn't that..." and deplored Tietjens's "fondness for a lack of contrast and rhythms. She also claims that the story of Pastoria trying to regain the lost throne from the Wizard was "as readers of the story remember". Grand Duke Boris Vladimirovich of Russia gained considerable notoriety by drinking champagne from the satin slipper of one of the chorus girls during a 1902 trip to Chicago.
The Wizard of Oz (1902 musical) | Reception
Mann. Mann later wrote the score for Baum's 1908 film/theatrical presentation, "The Fairylogue and Radio-Plays". Most of Baum's songs related to the story in some way, as in operetta, but as performed, the play was more like vaudeville, and new songs by other songwriters were frequently substituted. In fact, the first song interpolated into the musical was "The Traveler and the Pie", a major number for the Scarecrow. Baum and Tietjens had written it for a play called "The Octopus; or the Title Trust", which was never produced and possibly never completed. The song stayed in the show. James O'Dea and Edward Hutchinson wrote one of the show's most celebrated songs, "Sammy", in which Tryxie Tryfle sings of a lost love before King Pastoria, though the only surviving recording of the piece was sung by a man (Harry Macdonough).
The Wizard of Oz (1902 musical) | Production and early revivals
In a letter to his brother, Harry, Baum wrote that the book's publisher, George M. Hill, predicted a sale of about 250,000 copies. In spite of this favorable conjecture, Hill did not initially predict that the book would be phenomenally successful. He agreed to publish the book only when the manager of the Chicago Grand Opera House, Fred R. Hamlin, committed to making it into a musical stage play to publicize the novel. The play "The Wizard of Oz" debuted on June 16, 1902. It was revised to suit adult preferences and was crafted as a "musical extravaganza," with the costumes modeled after Denslow's drawings.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz | Publication
A teenage girl, Dorothy, lives on a farm in dreary Kansas with her Uncle Henry and Aunt Em dreaming of faraway places ("Over The Rainbow"). One day the farmhouse, with Dorothy inside, is swept off by a tornado to Munchkin land in the Land of Oz. The falling house kills the cruel ruler of the Munchkins, the Wicked Witch of the East. The Munchkins and the Sorceress of the North greet Dorothy ("Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead" and "Munchkinland"). The Sorceress tells Dorothy that she will have to go to the Emerald City to ask the great Wizard of Oz to help her return home.
The Wizard of Oz (1942 musical) | Act I
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a feature length 115 minute film. It was produced by Teaching Resource Films in 1975. It is an adaptation of the 1900 children's novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz", written by L. Frank Baum. It was a color film made in the United States, and has additional writing credits given to Katherine Jose and Irene Lewis. It is a collection of filmstrips narrated on records.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1975 film) | Introduction
"The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" is a 1900 children's novel written by American author L. Frank Baum. Since its first publication in 1900, it has been adapted many times: for film, television, theatre, books, comics, games, and other media.
Adaptations of The Wizard of Oz | Introduction
It was also mounted at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park in 1982–83 and 1990–91.
The Wizard of Oz (1942 musical) | Productions
Comes the cyclone, the cow flies. The farmhouse zooms over the first rows and lands back on stage, in the manner of the "Phantom's" crashing chandelier. Dorothy is suspended, Peter Pan-like, on high wires. All manner of creeping, crawling creatures augment the ascending ones; monkeys levitate, spookily; everyone, it appears, sooner or later, ascends, over and over."
The Wizard of Oz (1987 musical) | 1989 The Wizard of Oz Live! Arena Show
Dorothy and her friends arrive at Glinda's palace and are welcomed. There are great celebrations, with Glinda promising to send Dorothy home. The whole cast rushes out from the wings and sings the finale.
The Wizard of Oz (1902 musical) | Act Three: Glinda's Palace
The performers are predominantly positioned at music stands reading the script and music (similar to reader's theatre). The choreography is different from the 1939 movie: noticeable differences include the Munchkins not dancing and at no point do the four principals (Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion) dance together. Throughout the production, various pieces of Oz artwork by Charles Santore are projected on a screen in the back of the stage. Various songs were changed to better feature specific talents of individual singers, including "If I Only Had a Brain", which had a folk music tempo to highlight Jackson Browne and "If I Only Had a Heart", which had a rock and roll tempo to highlight Roger Daltrey (Daltrey even swings his microphone, mimicking his Who persona).
The Wizard of Oz in Concert: Dreams Come True | Production
Most of the musical's songs are taken from the 1939 film and were written by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg. New numbers written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice include a song for Professor Marvel ("The Wonders of the World") and the Wicked Witch of the West ("Red Shoes Blues"), two songs for the Wizard ("Bring Me the Broomstick" and "Farewell to Oz") and another song for Dorothy ("Nobody Understands Me"). A song featured in the film but omitted in the musical is "If I Were King of the Forest." Also not used in this musical was "The Jitterbug".
The Wizard of Oz (2011 musical) | Music
The Muppets' Wizard of Oz is a 2005 musical fantasy television film directed by Kirk Thatcher and starring Ashanti and The Muppets with supporting roles by Jeffrey Tambor, David Alan Grier and Queen Latifah. The film was produced by Bill Barretta and written by Debra Frank, Steve L. Hayes, Tom Martin and Adam F. Goldberg based on a story by Frank and Hayes. A contemporary adaptation of L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz", the story follows young Dorothy Gale, who works in her Aunt Em's diner, but dreams of becoming a singer somewhere beyond her small Kansas town.
The Muppets' Wizard of Oz | Introduction
In order to help Dorothy get home, the Wizard personally takes her in his new rocket ship.
The Wizard of Oz (1942 musical) | Act II
In 1942 the St. Louis Municipal Opera (The Muny) presented a new musical stage version. The script was adapted by Frank Gabrielson from the novel and uses most of the songs from the 1939 film. The 1942 production featured Evelyn Wycoff as Dorothy and Lee Dixon as the scarecrow. A new song was added for Dorothy to sing in the Emerald City, called "Evening Star", with lyrics by Mitchell Parish and music by Peter DeRose, and the music was newly orchestrated for a traditional pit orchestra instrumentation: woodwinds, brass, percussion, piano and strings, with a minimum of 22 musicians. Additional dance music is included, and the Wizard takes Dorothy home in a rocket ship instead of a hot air balloon.
The Wizard of Oz (1942 musical) | Productions
In 1945, the St. Louis Municipal Opera (MUNY) created a version with a script adapted by Frank Gabrielson from the novel, but it is influenced in some respects by the motion picture screenplay. It uses most of the songs from the film. This was followed, in 1987, by a Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) adaptation designed to more closely recreate the film version. The book by John Kane closely follows the film's screenplay, and it uses nearly all of the film's music. Both the MUNY and RSC adaptations were successes and have been revived numerous times in the US and UK.
The Wizard of Oz (2011 musical) | Background
The shoes are also lost when Dorothy is teleported back home just like in Baum's novel. The Broadway musical based on Maguire's book further shows that they were all silver, but were changed to ruby red by a spell put upon them by the Witch of the West Elphaba, enabling her sister the Witch of the East Nessarose, who prior had been confined to a wheelchair, to magically walk. A little-known adaptation of the original story made for British television in the mid-90s starring Denise van Outen explained that they had belonged to a visitor from over the rainbow who came to Oz before Dorothy and they were obtained by the Witch when the visitor wished herself home and they fell off her feet on the return trip.
Land of Oz | Silver Shoes/Ruby Slippers
A tornado sweeps through the plains of Kansas, lifting Dorothy and Toto. The two tumble into Oz, landing on the Scarecrow. After freeing him from his pole, the trio stroll together, soon finding a Tin Woodman and oiling him. After the four watch mating rituals of various animals set to strains of Camille Saint-Saëns's "The Swan", they are welcomed into the Emerald City. Suits of armor sing to them, "Hail to the Wizard of Oz! To the Wizard of Oz we lead the way!" A creature resembling the A-B-Sea Serpent of "The Royal Book of Oz" extends itself as stairsteps for Dorothy to enter the coach.
The Wizard of Oz (1933 film) | Plot summary
The second story arc is an adaptation of the second Oz book, "The Marvelous Land of Oz" (1904). Aunt Em and Uncle Henry are nearly finished building their new farm-house (after the former one was taken away by the cyclone) when Toto and Dorothy suddenly appear. Dorothy tells them of her adventures in Oz, but even though they find it hard to believe her, they are delighted that she has returned home. Dorothy searches for one of her magic shoes, which fell off on the journey home, but is unable to find it. Later, when the family goes shopping for supplies in town, a circus being prepared has Dorothy reunited with the Wizard of Oz.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1986 TV series) | The Marvelous Land of Oz (episodes 18 to 30)
The film depicts how L. Frank Baum came to create "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" while undergoing and eventually overcoming professional and personal failures. The story is interspersed with the famous Oz story, shown at certain points when Baum is writing down his ideas. It is shown that he was originally telling this to a group of kids, who asked him the name of this location, to which he looks at a file cabinet with the bottom drawer marked O-Z and decided "Oz". Another idea he had thought of was to say Dorothy was born in the Dakota Territory, only to scrap that sentence in favor of Kansas.
The Dreamer of Oz: The L. Frank Baum Story | Plot
This was also a success and has been given many revivals in various formats. This musical has been touring the U.S. since 2008. It has become a popular musical for community theatres, schools and children's theatres in the United States and the United Kingdom.
The Wizard of Oz (1987 musical) | Introduction
In more recent years, restoring the full title has become increasingly common, particularly to distinguish the novel from the Hollywood film.
L. Frank Baum | "The Wizard of Oz: Fred R. Hamlin's Musical Extravaganza"
The witch eventually captures Dorothy, and her friends rush to try to rescue her, disguising themselves as ghosts. The witch is not fooled and intends to shrink Dorothy and her friends with a magic potion in her cauldron. Thinking fast, Dorothy pushes the witch into the cauldron. The water shrinks the Wicked Witch away to nothing ("Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead" (reprise)). The friends return to the Emerald City, but the Wizard tries to put them off. The Wizard turns out to be an ordinary old man who had journeyed to Oz from Omaha long ago. However, the Wizard provides the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and the Cowardly Lion with a diploma, a watch to show large heartedness, and a medal of "courage", respectively, and convinces them all that these items solve their problems.
The Wizard of Oz (1942 musical) | Act II
No description of this film was given, but it does mention the name. It was unlikely to be considered a direct sequel, but is probably based on another L. Frank Baum novel, "John Dough and the Cherub".
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1910 film) | "John Dough and the Cherub"
The Wicked Witch flies down into the City with more threats, still angry that she doesn't have the ruby slippers. The four friends and Toto go into the Wizard's chamber. The great Oz appears as a frightening, disembodied head and says he will grant the group their wishes if they do something for him first. He demands: ("Bring Me the Broomstick") of the Wicked Witch of the West.
The Wizard of Oz (2011 musical) | Plot
The Wizard of Oz is a 1933 Canadian-American animated short film directed by Ted Eshbaugh. The story is credited to "Col. Frank Baum." Frank Joslyn Baum, a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army and eldest son of writer L. Frank Baum, was involved in the film's production, and may have had an involvement in the film's script, which is loosely inspired by the elder Baum's 1900 novel, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz". It runs approximately eight and a half minutes and is nearly wordless, working mainly with arrangements of classical music created by Carl W. Stalling. The film was originally made in Technicolor, but because it was made without proper licensing from the Technicolor Corporation (which limited use of its 3-strip process to Disney), it never received a theatrical release.
The Wizard of Oz (1933 film) | Introduction
Other new characters in the piece are King Pastoria II and his girlfriend, Trixie Tryfle (a waitress), Cynthia Cynch (a lady lunatic), Sir Dashemoff Daily (the poet laureate), Sir Wiley Gyle, and General Riskitt. Dorothy Gale's surname was introduced in this version. It was not mentioned in the original novel, though it is mentioned in "Ozma of Oz" (1907). The main plot of the show, as recounted in newspapers of the time, is Pastoria's attempts to regain the throne from the Wizard of Oz. The original protagonists' search for the Wizard puts them on the wrong side of the law.
The Wizard of Oz (1902 musical) | Introduction
"Wicked" is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman. It is based on the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel "", an alternative telling of the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz" and L. Frank Baum's classic 1900 story, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz". The musical is told from the perspective of the witches of the Land of Oz; its plot begins before and continues after Dorothy's arrival in Oz from Kansas, and it includes several references to the 1939 film and Baum's novel. "Wicked" tells the story of two unlikely friends, Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) who was born in Munchkinland as well as Glinda of the Upper Uplands, Gillikin County.
Glinda the Good Witch | "Wicked"
It was based on Baum's books "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz", "The Marvelous Land of Oz", "Ozma of Oz" and "John Dough and the Cherub", with intermission slides showing previews of "Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz", which was not sold in stores until near the end of the run. Francis Boggs directed the Oz material and Otis Turner directed "John Dough and the Cherub". Baum, in a white suit, would step behind the screen and into the film, pulling his actors off to appear on stage with him. Surviving production stills depict a very large cast of Oz characters.
The Fairylogue and Radio-Plays | Adaptation
The original cast album was recorded October 27, 2000, at Grace Church Chapel on the Hill, Toronto. + Cut from 2017 production The score was largely re-recorded and released on a second CD in 2002 by The Civic Light Opera Company to reflect many of the musical changes that had been made since the original version had been made in the preceding two years. This CD is available through http://www.civiclightoperacompany.com/wizard_of_oz.html and various Farmers, Munchkins, Crows, Kalidahs, Poppies, Field Mice, Emerald City Citizens, Winged Monkeys, Winkies, Hammerheads, Fighting Trees, Quadlings
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (musical) | Songs
The character Imogene the Cow did not appear in the novel. The cow was used as a replacement for Toto the dog in the stage musical. Many of the costumes and much of the make-up in this film, though notably, not of the Tin Woodman, resemble those used in the 1902 Broadway musical "The Wizard of Oz". (None of the songs in the stage show, however, were used in the later MGM film which has become so famous.) As is clear from the plot descriptions below, the presence of Eureka the kitten is drawn from the commingling of material from "The Marvelous Land of Oz" and "Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz"; Eureka appears in the latter novel.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1910 film) | Production history
In the Tams-Witmark Music Library licensed version, "The Jitterbug" occurs between "March of the Winkies" and "March of the Winkies" (reprise). "Over the Rainbow" (reprise) occurs after "March of the Winkies" (reprise).
The Wizard of Oz (1987 musical) | Notes
The Marvelous Land of Oz is a 1981 musical play by Thomas W. Olson (book), Gary Briggle (lyrics), and Richard Dworsky (music), based on the 1904 novel by L. Frank Baum. Briggle originated the role of the Scarecrow in the original production, directed by John Cark Donahue at The Children's Theatre Company and School of Minneapolis. The production was filmed (videotaped) for television under the direction of John Driver, the first of six such productions with Television Theatre Company and the only one to be strictly bound to the theatre. The overture in the film depicts the cast and crew getting ready for the performance, while the other five films had openings that were shot on location or in studios.
The Marvelous Land of Oz (musical) | Introduction
The Wiz is a Broadway musical based on "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz". The Wiz may also refer to:
The Wiz (disambiguation) | Introduction
This film, and its sequels, were created in the wake of Baum's loss of the rights to "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" and temporary licensing rights on "The Marvelous Land of Oz" and "John Dough and the Cherub".
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1910 film) | Production history
The Wicked Witch of the West, sister of the late Wicked Witch of the East, vows revenge upon Dorothy. Dorothy meets the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman. The Scarecrow wants to get a brain, and the Tin Woodman needs a heart ("If I Only Had a Brain"/"If I Only Had a Heart"). Dorothy suggests that the Wizard can help them too ("We're Off to See the Wizard"). They then meet the Cowardly Lion ("If I Only Had the Nerve"). The four friends travel down the yellow brick road, having been warned of the lions, tigers, bears and the fantastical jitterbugs who are controlled by the Wicked Witch.
The Wizard of Oz (1942 musical) | Act I
Dorothy sets off toward the Emerald City to speak to the great Oz ("You’re Off to See the Wizard"). On her way, she meets the Scarecrow, who feels inadequate with a head full of only stuffing ("If I Only Had a Brain"). Dorothy invites him to travel with her, hoping the Wizard can help him ("We’re Off to See the Wizard"). They soon meet the Tin Man, who is unhappy with his empty tin chest ("If I Only Had a Heart") and invite him to join them. The Wicked Witch of the West threatens to light the Scarecrow on fire unless Dorothy gives her the ruby slippers; Dorothy refuses.
The Wizard of Oz (2011 musical) | Plot
Critics were split on the merits of ABC's modernized adaptation to rely on plot elements from the original novel instead of the iconic 1939 film.
The Muppets' Wizard of Oz | Critical reception
The friends finally reach the Emerald City, where they meet Lord Growlie, his daughter Gloria and the Royal Army of Oz. Lord Growlie warns that if someone bothers the Wizard with a foolish request, he may destroy them. After a tour ("The Merry Old Land of Oz"; "Evening Star"), the friends meet the Wizard. He is very frightening and says that, before he will help them, they must kill the Wicked Witch of the West. As Dorothy and her new friends travel to the castle of the Wicked Witch, she sends various foes to hamper or attack them, but they manage to persevere.
The Wizard of Oz (1942 musical) | Act II
L. Frank Baum revisited this story for the plot of his 1913 musical "The Tik-Tok Man of Oz", starring James C. Morton and Fred Woodward. Aside from Tik-Tok, a princess named Ozma, and a visit to the Nome King's domain, the similarities between the book and the finished play were minimal, allowing Baum to re-adapt the latter as the eighth Oz book, "Tik-Tok of Oz", in 1914. A theatrical adaptation called "Ozma of Oz: A Tale of Time", written by Susan Zeder with music by Richard Gray, premiered at the Poncho Theatre in Seattle, Washington, in 1979. On its 20th anniversary in 1999, it was revived with the addition of further songs and titled, "Time Again in Oz." Elements from "Ozma of Oz" and the previous novel, "The Marvelous Land of Oz", were incorporated into the 1985 film "Return to Oz", featuring Fairuza Balk as Dorothy.
Ozma of Oz | Adaptations
Tales of the Wizard of Oz is a 1961 animated television series produced by Crawley Films for Videocraft (later known as Rankin/Bass Productions). This is the second animated series produced by the studio, and the first by Rankin/Bass to feature traditional animation.
Tales of the Wizard of Oz | Introduction
The first story arc is an adaptation of the first Oz book, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" (1900). It follows the adventures of Dorothy, an orphan girl living out in the gray prairies of Kansas with her Aunt Em, her Uncle Henry and her dog Toto. One day, After Em and Uncle Henry leave Dorothy and Toto alone in order to travel into town. A tornado appears, uproots the farmhouse, with Dorothy and Toto inside, and transports it to the Land of Oz. In Oz Dorothy meets the Good Witch of the North, who tells her that she just killed the Wicked Witch of the East, as her house landed directly on top of her, and by doing so she freed the Munchkins from slavery.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1986 TV series) | The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (episodes 1 to 17)
A young girl named Dorothy Gale lives on the great Kansas prairie with her Aunt Em, Uncle Henry, and cow, Imogene. One day, while she is playing with her pet cow, Imogene, a fierce whirlwind appears. Dorothy and Imogene take shelter in the farmhouse, which is carried far away into the clouds. Meanwhile, in the hamlet of Center Munch, the little Munchkins dance around their maypole, not noticing that Dorothy's house has fallen to Earth and killed the Wicked Witch of the East. Dorothy opens the front door and marvels at the strange Land of Oz. The Good Witch of the North awards her with a magic ring that grants her three wishes and can summon Glinda the Good Witch of the South at any time.
The Wizard of Oz (1902 musical) | Act One: The Storm
It was a critical success and won the Academy Awards for best song and best score.
The Wizard of Oz (1942 musical) | Background
Some of the music was known even beyond the United States. During the Baums' 1907 stay at the Shepherd's Hotel in Cairo, Egypt, a Hungarian Gypsy Band played songs from the musical in their honor.
The Wizard of Oz (1902 musical) | Music
The ending song is a shortened version of ""Searching For a Dream"", which plays while showcasing clips from the series.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1986 TV series) | North American English version
The Wizard of Oz in Concert: Dreams Come True is a 1995 television musical performance based on the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz" (starring Judy Garland). The book and score of the film were performed on stage at Lincoln Center to benefit the Children's Defense Fund. The concert featured guest performers including Jackson Browne as the Scarecrow, Roger Daltrey as the Tin Man, Natalie Cole as Glinda, Joel Grey as the Wizard (a role he reprised in "Wicked"), Jewel as Dorothy, Nathan Lane as the Cowardly Lion, Debra Winger as the Wicked Witch, and Lucie Arnaz as Aunt Em.
The Wizard of Oz in Concert: Dreams Come True | Introduction
After the success of "The Wizard of Oz" on Broadway in 1903, Baum set out immediately to write a sequel, "The Marvelous Land of Oz; Being an Account of the Further Adventures of the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman", which was published in 1904. The book was dedicated to the stars of the musical, Fred A. Stone and David C. Montgomery, who had been made majors stars by the show. However, "The Wizard of Oz" was still running, and Montgomery & Stone refused to leave it to do an untested sequel. As a result, the story had to be heavily overhauled to eliminate the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman, as the novel had excluded Dorothy Gale and the Cowardly Lion, neither of whom were major draws in the stage show.
The Woggle-Bug (musical) | Background
Oz Before the Rainbow is a book written by Mark Evan Swartz in 2000 chronicling the early stage and film versions of "The Wizard of Oz", before the 1939 movie, as well as an album featuring music from the early stage versions. Half of the book is devoted to the 1902 stage musical of "The Wizard of Oz" that Baum adapted from his book, with substantial revisions by the director and producer. The adaptation was a tremendous success, first in Chicago, then on Broadway, where it ran for two years, and then on tour for an additional seven years. It starred the comedy team of David C.
Oz Before the Rainbow | Introduction
The musical was scheduled to make its UK regional premiere in a new production directed by Nikolai Foster for the Curve, Leicester running from 28 November 2020 to 16 January 2021. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the production has been postponed a year running from 27 November 2021 to 15 January 2022. Orphaned teenager Dorothy Gale lives on a farm in Kansas with her Aunt Em, Uncle Henry and dog Toto, but feels misunderstood ("Nobody Understands Me"). The unpleasant Miss Gulch threatens to call the sheriff after Toto bites her leg. Dorothy wants to escape to a nicer place, somewhere ("Over the Rainbow").
The Wizard of Oz (2011 musical) | Leicester (2021–2022)
It was the basis for a 1978 film by the same title starring Diana Ross as an adult Dorothy and Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow. "The Wizard of Oz" continues to inspire new versions, such as Disney's "Return to Oz" (1985), "The Muppets' Wizard of Oz", "Tin Man" (a re-imagining of the story televised in late 2007 on the Sci Fi Channel), and a variety of animated productions. Today's most successful Broadway show "Wicked" provides a history to the two Oz witches used in the classic MGM film. Gregory Maguire, author of the novel "Wicked" on which the musical is based, chose to honor L.
L. Frank Baum bibliography | "The Wizard of Oz" on screen and back to stage
The musical was performed in a concert version in New York City in May 1982 by the New Amsterdam Theatre Company. It was revived in Tarpon Springs, Florida by the New Century Opera Company in 1998 and 2006, and the company recorded the Baum/Tietjens music on CD with piano accompaniment. Hungry Tiger Press published a two-CD set of vintage recordings related to the musical in 2003. The Canton Comic Opera Company, a community theatre company in Canton, Ohio, performed a "restored" version in 2010. They believe that their production was the first in over 80 years with full orchestra.
The Wizard of Oz (1902 musical) | Post-World War II revivals
The Good Witch then waves her wand and a pair of beautiful shoes appear on Dorothy's feet. She tells Dorothy that if she wants to get home, she must ask the Wizard of Oz to help her. After a while everyone exits, and Dorothy is left alone with a Scarecrow hung on a pole. She wishes she had someone to talk to, and he comes to life. He gets down from the pole and complains that he has no brain. Dorothy suggests that he join her on the road to the Emerald City, and he sings "Alas for the Man Without Brains." They come upon the Tin Woodman, who has rusted playing his piccolo.
The Wizard of Oz (1902 musical) | Act One: The Storm
M. Barrie's play "Peter Pan" had been previously. ... Judge obtained the rights to the [1939] film. ... An additional verse has been put back into the Academy Award-winning song 'Over the Rainbow,' as well as an entire number, 'The Jitterbug,' that was cut from the movie. Every word of the screenplay has been left in. 'We've just fattened it out a little bit because you need a few more words in the theater than you need in the movies.'" In 1986, John Kane was asked by the company to write the book for the adaptation. This hews even more closely to the film's screenplay than the 1942 MUNY version and attempts to recreate the film's atmosphere and some of its special effects.
The Wizard of Oz (1987 musical) | History
Dorothy Gale is gladly joining her Uncle Henry in California to visit relatives who live at Hugson's Ranch, after their vacation from Australia in "Ozma of Oz". Dorothy meets Hugson's nephew who is her second cousin, Zeb of Hugson's Ranch. Dorothy, Eureka (her cat) and Zeb are riding a buggy being pulled by a cab-horse named Jim when a violent earthquake strikes. A crevice opens in the ground beneath them and they fall deep into the Earth. Dorothy, Eureka, Jim, Zeb, and the buggy land in the underground Land of the Mangaboos, a race of vegetable people who grow on vines.
Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz | Plot summary
Lion of Oz is a 2000 animated film set before the 1900 children's novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz". It tells the story of how the Cowardly Lion, formerly part of the Omaha Circus, came to be in Oz and how he stopped the Wicked Witch of the East from getting the Flower of Oz. It is based upon the 1995 book "Lion of Oz and the Badge of Courage" by Roger S. Baum (great-grandson of L. Frank Baum, the original author of the Oz books).
Lion of Oz | Introduction
The Keeper of the Gates patrols outside the Emerald City. Sir Wiley Gyle enters, a mad old inventor who has scorned magic since his mother died. He is sent to prison for murdering his wife. The travelers enter the Emerald City. The Wizard gives the Scarecrow a brain and the Tin Woodman a heart. He declares this the greatest of all his achievements and calls for a celebration. The Ball of All Nations is thrown, in which up to twelve songs are sung by various characters. The Wizard performs a basket trick in which King Pastoria is the mark. In the middle of it Pastoria claims his right to the throne and overthrows the Wizard.
The Wizard of Oz (1902 musical) | Act Two: The Emerald City
As of 2017, NBC Theatrical is developing a stage musical version of "It's Kind of a Funny Story" with music composed by Drew Gasparini, book by Alex Brightman and orchestrations by Justin Goldner. This will mark the second musical adaptation of one of Vizzini’s novels, the first being "Be More Chill".
It's Kind of a Funny Story | Musical adaptation
"The Wizard of Oz" is Andrew Lloyd Webber's 18th musical. Tim Rice first collaborated with Lloyd Webber in 1965, together writing "The Likes of Us". Their next piece was "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat", followed by two more concept albums that became hit musicals, "Jesus Christ Superstar" (1971) and "Evita" (1978). Except for a special collaboration for Queen Elizabeth's 60th birthday celebration, the musical "Cricket" in 1986, after "Evita", each man turned to other collaborators to produce further well-known musical theatre works. To create the new musical, Lloyd Webber and director Jeremy Sams adapted the 1939 film's screenplay, and Rice and Lloyd Webber added several new songs to the film's score.
The Wizard of Oz (2011 musical) | Background
The plot is virtually a retelling of the storyline of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz"; however, as this is a sequel to the animated series "Tales of the Wizard of Oz", in which Dorothy and the gang went through an entirely different series of adventures, this adventure is new to them all. All of Dorothy's friends become trapped in the situations they were in when she first met them, meaning they all must visit the Wizard as they did in the pilot for the TV series. Dorothy receives a letter from the Scarecrow, called Socrates in the special, as in the series, telling her that everyone is happy with the gifts the Wizard gave them, and that they miss her very much.
Return to Oz (TV special) | Plot
One of the films in the 3-disc boxed DVD set called "More Treasures from American Film Archives" (2004), compiled by the National Film Preservation Foundation from 5 American film archives. This film is preserved by George Eastman House, has a running time of 13 minutes and an added piano score adapted from Paul Tietjens's music from the 1902 stage play and performed by Martin Marks. It is also included in the 3-disc edition of the 1939 film version. On this edition, John Thomas performs a compilation of Oz-related music by Louis F. Gottschalk.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1910 film) | Home media
In 1913, another stage version, adapted from "Ozma of Oz" was "The Tik-Tok Man of Oz", which itself was adapted into "Tik-Tok of Oz". The book contains numerous illustrations, advertisements, photos from many of the versions, program covers, posters and sheet music. It goes into great detail about performers, staging and designs. The book notes that, despite many attempts, Baum was unable to repeat the extraordinary stage success of the 1902 musical and its revivals, although some of the adaptations were then turned into successful novels. He notes, however, that the various versions influenced each other and led to the 1939 MGM movie.
Oz Before the Rainbow | Introduction
Production on the film began when Walt Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1937) showed that films adapted from popular children's stories and fairytale folklore could still be successful. In January 1938, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer bought the rights to L. Frank Baum’s hugely popular novel from Samuel Goldwyn, who had toyed with the idea of making the film as a vehicle for Eddie Cantor, who was under contract to the Goldwyn studios and whom Goldwyn wanted to cast as the Scarecrow. The script went through several writers and revisions before the final shooting. Mervyn LeRoy's assistant, William H. Cannon, had submitted a brief four-page outline.
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film) | Development
Rand McNally published the six stories in three booklets in 1939.
Little Wizard Stories of Oz | Content and publication
The house is carried by the tornado to the Land of Oz. Dorothy meets the Munchkins and Glinda, the Good Witch of the North (who resembles Aunt Em). Her house has fallen upon, and killed, the Wicked Witch of the East. This frees the Munchkins from her power, and they treat Dorothy as their heroine ("Come Out, Come Out"; "Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead"). The Wicked Witch of the West (who resembles Miss Gulch) arrives to claim her sister's magic ruby slippers and vows to avenge her death. Glinda has already put the slippers on Dorothy's feet, further infuriating the witch.
The Wizard of Oz (1987 musical) | Synopsis
This version of the script is still sometimes used, but it has been largely usurped by John Kane's 1987 version, which adheres more faithfully to the film. According to actor Kurt Raymond, who has performed in both The Muny and 1987 versions, the Muny's adaptation contains "humor that is extremely dated and not quite politically correct", but it has beautiful sets and uses costumes very similar to those seen in the film. Nevertheless, this version was produced by the Starlight Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1953 with Jo Sullivan as Dorothy, in 1963 with Connie Stevens as Dorothy, and in 1984 with Vicki Lewis as Dorothy.
The Wizard of Oz (1942 musical) | Productions
Paul Taylor of "The Independent" gave the show four out of five stars, commenting: "Jeremy Sams's production is a marvel of beguiling narrative fluency and, with Robert Jones's superb designs, of endlessly witty and spectacular visual invention – from the digitally-enhanced hurricane transition to Oz to the skeletally twisted Gothic palace of the Wicked Witch and her totalitarian, helmeted guards." Henry Hitchings of the "London Evening Standard" also gave the show four out of five stars, praising Jones's "lavish costumes and lovingly conceived sets. ... The story is lucid and well-paced, though the technological wizardry occasionally obscures its inherent magic.
The Wizard of Oz (2011 musical) | Reception
Nathaniel D. Mann was an American composer best known for his work with L. Frank Baum. He composed at least two songs with Baum, "Different Ways of Making Love" and "It Happens Ev'ry Day," and another with John Slavin, "She Didn't Really Mind the Thing at All," for "The Wizard of Oz" stage musical in 1902, and in 1908, composed the first original film score (27 cues) for "The Fairylogue and Radio-Plays", one of the earliest feature-length fiction films (and the earliest film adaptations of the novels "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz", "The Marvelous Land of Oz", "Ozma of Oz", "John Dough and the Cherub", and "Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz", presented by Baum himself), which debuted September 24, 1908.
Nathaniel D. Mann | Introduction
The show toured from 1903 to 1909. It ran on Broadway from January to October 1903, and again from March 1904 to October 1905. It was released for stock and regional shows in 1911.
The Wizard of Oz (1902 musical) | Show tour
Returning to the Emerald City, they see the Wizard (now a booming voice that seems to come from the very air). He reneges on his promise, and the Lion knocks over a screen in anger. Behind it stands a bewildered man who claims to be the Wizard. He shows them the elaborate mechanical effects used to create his illusions, and tells them that he is really a balloonist from Omaha named Herman Smith who traveled to Oz by accident when his hot air balloon drifted off course. The Ozians had never seen such a sight and proclaimed him Wizard. Not wanting to disappoint them, he assumed the role and had a great city built.
The Wiz | Act II
He also hired Noel Langley and poet Ogden Nash to write separate versions of the story. None of these three knew about the others, and this was not an uncommon procedure. Nash delivered a four-page outline; Langley turned in a 43-page treatment and a full film script. He then turned in three more, this time incorporating the songs written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg. Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf submitted a script and were brought on board to touch up the writing, and to be sure the story stayed true to Baum's book. However, producer Arthur Freed was unhappy with their work and reassigned it to Langley.
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film) | Development