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
Sorry. I cannot find the answer based on the context. It premiered on "Broadway" at the "Gershwin Theatre". Sorry. I cannot find the answer based on the context. It was premiered on Broadway at the Gershwin Theatre.
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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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.
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what is the genre of this musical?
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Sorry. I cannot find the answer based on the context.
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where was it recorded?
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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 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 entire audio track was preserved and is included on the two-CD Rhino Record "deluxe" soundtrack edition.
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film) | Deleted songs
A cast album, featuring the songs from the original production, was released as a CD and digital download on 9 May 2011.
The Wizard of Oz (2011 musical) | Cast Recording
It was also mounted at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park in 1982–83 and 1990–91.
The Wizard of Oz (1942 musical) | Productions
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
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
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 first record album of music from the film was not a soundtrack album in the sense that the term is used today, or even an original cast album, although it is sometimes erroneously called so. It was, instead, a U.S. Decca four-record 78 rpm studio cast album of songs from the film released in 1940, featuring Judy Garland as Dorothy but with the Ken Darby Singers in other roles. Darby had also been one of the film's music arrangers, but the arrangements made for the film were not used in this album. This album was about twenty minutes long.
Musical selections in The Wizard of Oz | 1940 Decca Studio Album
Some musical pieces were filmed and deleted later, in the editing process. The song "The Jitterbug", written in a swing style, was intended for a sequence where the group journeys to the Witch's castle. Due to time constraints, it was cut from the final theatrical version. The film footage of the song has been lost, although silent home-film footage of rehearsals has survived. The audio recording of the song was preserved, and was included in the two-CD Rhino Records deluxe edition of the soundtrack, as well as on the film's VHS and DVD editions. A reference to "The Jitterbug" remains in the film: The Witch tells her flying monkeys that they should have no trouble apprehending Dorothy and her friends because "I've sent a little insect on ahead to take the fight out of them." Another musical number cut before release came right after the Wicked Witch of the West was melted and before Dorothy and her friends returned to the Wizard.
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film) | Deleted songs
In 2001 an Australian musical theatre staging of "The Wizard of Oz", an adaptation of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" toured the country. It was directed by Nancye Hayes with Peter Casey as musical director. It ran from November 2001 until December 2002 and featured Nikki Webster as Dorothy. "The Wizard of Oz" was first staged at the Lyric Theatre in Pyrmont, New South Wales before moving to the Regent Theatre in Melbourne, VIC then onto the Lyric Theatre in South Brisbane, Queensland.
The Wizard of Oz (album) | Background
There was no overture or finale included, and most of the songs were not placed in the same order that they were heard in the film. The album also used some introductory song verses which had not been included in the motion picture and were not used in the MGM radio previews. Two songs heard in the film as finally released were omitted from the album - "Optimistic Voices" and "If I Were King of the Forest"; however, the album did include the song "The Jitterbug", which had been deleted from the film. It also used, oddly enough, dialogue which never appeared in the movie; at one point, during "The Merry Old Land of Oz", Dorothy says, "We can't go to see the Wizard like this! We're all dirty!", after which the group supposedly enters the Wash and Brush Up room in the Emerald City.
Musical selections in The Wizard of Oz | 1940 Decca Studio Album
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
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
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
The Wizard of Oz, subtitled "Live Australian Cast Recording" is a cast recording of the 2001 Australian production of the stage musical "The Wizard of Oz", featuring Nikki Webster. It was nominated for the 2002 ARIA Award for Best Cast or Show Album.
The Wizard of Oz (album) | 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
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 single-disc still contained all of the vocal outtakes, with the exception of the "Over The Rainbow" reprise, and extended versions of songs but discarded almost all of the background score. Despite the existence of multi-track recordings, which had been made to create a more full and balanced monaural track for the film, none of the music on either release was mixed in stereo.
Musical selections in The Wizard of Oz | Rhino Records Deluxe Soundtrack Album
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
In 1940, American Decca released the first album of songs from the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz". However, it was not a soundtrack album but a cover version featuring only Judy Garland from the film, with other roles taken by the Ken Darby Singers.
Decca Records | Popular music
Also gone was the moment in which the Scarecrow says, "They tore my legs off, and they threw them over there", and the Tin Man answers, "Well, that's you all over", and the scene in which Dorothy's friends are scaling the cliff to get to the witch's castle, as well as many other tiny bits from the film. Perhaps most interesting was the total elimination of any reference to the Ruby Slippers, a very significant and pivotal part of the film. This soundtrack recording eventually supplanted the 1940 studio album. Throughout the 1960s, '70s, and '80s, it was constantly reprinted and re-released (each time with different cover art), and the album eventually appeared in an expanded version on CD in 1989, released by CBS Records instead of MGM.
Musical selections in The Wizard of Oz | MGM Soundtrack Album
All songs are written by Baum and Gottschalk unless otherwise specified. Two player piano rolls of suites and vintage recordings of "Ask the Flowers to Tell You" and "My Wonderful Dream Girl" can be found on Disc 2 of David Maxine's collection of "Vintage Recordings from the 1903 Musical The Wizard of Oz" (2003), while James Patrick Doyle performs a suite of many of the songs on synthesizer in his collection "" (1999), both released by Hungry Tiger Press.
The Tik-Tok Man of Oz | Songs
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
It was a critical success and won the Academy Awards for best song and best score.
The Wizard of Oz (1942 musical) | Background
In 1956 – the year that the film was first shown on TV – MGM Records released their own authentic 40-minute LP soundtrack album from the film. This album featured not only most of the songs, but also enough dialogue for listeners to be able to follow the story, almost exactly as heard on the movie soundtrack. There were a few minor revisions in this 1956 edition, i.e. Aunt Em's two lines "Dorothy, please, we're trying to count!" (referring to their farm chickens) and "Dorothy, Dorothy, we're busy!" were turned into the single line "Dorothy, Dorothy, we're busy! Please, we're trying to count!".
Musical selections in The Wizard of Oz | MGM Soundtrack Album
The 1995 album contains no spoken dialogue. One vocal not heard on the album is the guards' chanting of "O – Ee– Oh! Yeoo – Oh!" outside the Wicked Witch's castle since only the instrumental music track is included. Also unheard is the "Lions and tigers and bears!" chant. Another oddity is that although a full track of the "Cyclone" instrumental is used, in lieu of the film's shortened soundtrack which has an audible edit, only one of the two tracks for the segment was located, so the mix is different from the "normal" version. A single-disc version was also produced, containing only the vocal selections, the main title, the "Cyclone" instrumental, and the score for the final scene where Dorothy goes home.
Musical selections in The Wizard of Oz | Rhino Records Deluxe Soundtrack Album
Many other studio cast albums of the songs from the film (aside from the 1940 and 1963 ones) have appeared over the past fifty years, most of them fairly obscure and never issued on compact disc. Golden Records released a seven-minute 45-rpm album of the story with four songs from the film, narrated by Art Carney. The music was sung and played by the Mitch Miller Chorus and Orchestra.
Musical selections in The Wizard of Oz | Other studio cast albums
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 1989 release also contained the original deleted film version of The Jitterbug, albeit without its full intro, as a bonus track. In 1998, to coincide with a digitally restored and remastered theatrical reissue, the album was reissued on Rhino Records as "The Songs and Story of the Wizard of Oz". The album was edited from the digital stereo soundtrack of the film's 1998 re-release, created from surviving multiple recording stems, and as such was the first album to feature many of the songs in stereo sound.
Musical selections in The Wizard of Oz | MGM Soundtrack Album
This set does not include any spoken dialogue. Its main purpose is to present the songs as well as the pure audio background music from the movie. The set is quite extensive because it contains many "extended versions" of songs and background music with which most people are familiar. All of the songs from the movie are presented on the set in their full and even some extended, vocal versions. Vocal tracks are identified (vocal) in bold type; other tracks are instrumentals.
Musical selections in The Wizard of Oz | Music in the film
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 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
Ted Kryczko produced the album, Booker T. Washington White prepared the songs for recording, and Paul Silveira and Brandon Christy mixed the songs.
The Muppets' Wizard of Oz | Music
"The Wizard of Oz" is famous for its musical selections and soundtrack. Its songs were composed by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by Yip Harburg. They won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Over the Rainbow". The song ranks first in the AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs and the Recording Industry Association of America's "365 Songs of the Century". MGM composer Herbert Stothart, a well-known Hollywood composer and songwriter, won the Academy Award for Best Original Score. Georgie Stoll was associate conductor, and screen credit was given to George Bassman, Murray Cutter, Ken Darby and Paul Marquardt for orchestral and vocal arrangements.
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film) | Music
"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
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 two songs Garland sang on the album, "Over the Rainbow" and "The Jitterbug," had already been released as a 78-rpm single in 1939 only a month after the film's premiere, on a single that had nothing to do with the Brunswick Records recording released by MGM, and were incorporated into the 1940 album. On the rest of the 1940 album, an unnamed soloist took the role of Dorothy.
Musical selections in The Wizard of Oz | 1940 Decca Studio Album
The production premiered in 2000 at the Toronto Civic Light Opera Company, directed by Cascone with choreography by Lesley Ansell. Two original cast albums were released. One by Hungry Tiger Music in 2000, and one by The Civic Light Opera Company in 2002, featuring the revised score. The Toronto Civic Light Opera revived the show in 2002 and again in 2010. Joe Cascone and David Haines, of the original and revival casts (as, respectively, Baum/Wizard and the Cowardly Lion), presented highlights of this musical as well as of many other Oz musical incarnations at the International Wizard of Oz Club's Winkie Convention at Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove, California, on July 9, 2011 as part of a concert entitled "Songs in the Key of Oz" which is also available on CD.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (musical) | Background
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
"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 Times" reviewer wrote: "This is, to come out with it immediately, the most marvellous show." The RSC revived the show the following season, again with Gillian Bevan as Dorothy, and recorded a cast album of the show. The staging has been repeated frequently by musical theatre companies in the United Kingdom.
The Wizard of Oz (1987 musical) | 1987 Original London production
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
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
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 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
In 1995, all previous albums of "The Wizard of Oz" were supplanted by Rhino Records' extensive, new 2-CD soundtrack album featuring not only all the songs, but also all of Herbert Stothart's background music, as well as outtake pieces of music, the opening and closing credits music, all of the songs cut from the film following its sneak previews, and demos for the songs. (See track listing below.) In all, this album played for well over two hours, longer than the actual film. All of the songs and music, except for the demos, were presented in the exact order that they would have been heard in the film had it not been slightly trimmed before release.
Musical selections in The Wizard of Oz | Rhino Records Deluxe Soundtrack Album
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
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 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
The reprise of "Over the Rainbow" and the "Triumphal Return" sequence were also not included. The orchestra on the album was conducted by Victor Young. In the "Munchkinland" medley, the Ken Darby Singers provided the voices of the Munchkins, but they were not altered to sound "chipmunk"-like, as in the film. The role of Glinda was sung by an unnamed soprano with an operatic voice, the solo part in "If I Only Had a Brain" was performed by composer Harold Arlen, and in the song "If I Only Had A Heart", the role of the Tin Man was sung by a tenor whose voice bordered on falsetto.
Musical selections in The Wizard of Oz | 1940 Decca Studio Album
Extensive edits in the film's final cut removed vocals from the last portion of the film. However, the film was fully underscored, with instrumental snippets from the film's various leitmotifs throughout. There was also some recognizable classical and popular music, including:
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film) | Underscoring
The original cast recording was released in 2001 through BMG Australia. Track list: Webster released "Over the Rainbow" as a single along with another song, "The Best Days". The double A side single peaked at #21 on the ARIA Singles Chart and was certified gold.
The Wizard of Oz (album) | Soundtrack
The Boys Choir of Harlem appeared as the Munchkins, and Ry Cooder and David Sanborn performed as musicians.
The Wizard of Oz in Concert: Dreams Come True | Introduction
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
In 1963, MGM Records issued an entirely new LP recording featuring four selections from "The Wizard of Oz", this one a true cover version with none of the film's cast. Also included on the album were selections from Victor Herbert's "Babes in Toyland". This album quickly sank into obscurity and has never been issued on CD. It featured such artists as Jackson Beck.
Musical selections in The Wizard of Oz | MGM 1963 Studio Album
from October 2008 to January 2012. Another touring production began running across the U.S. in October 2017. It features new scenic design, costumes & choreography.
The Wizard of Oz (1987 musical) | 2000s
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
Allmusic awarded the album 4 stars calling it "Wonderful music".
The Wizard of Oz and Other Harold Arlen Songs | Reception
(As usual, Roger Edens was also heavily involved as an unbilled musical associate to Freed.)
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film) | Music
The show is to be presented again from November 29 to December 10, 2017 at the Zion Cultural Centre, Toronto featuring members of the original 2000, 2002 and 2010 casts (including Cascone and Haines) along with several newcomers to the various roles.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (musical) | Background
In those vocals, his voice is easy to detect. Ray Bolger (and also Jack Haley) were speakers with a distinct Boston accent and did not pronounce the "r" in "wizard". Buddy Ebsen was a Midwesterner, like Judy Garland, and pronounced the "r."
Musical selections in The Wizard of Oz | Introduction
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
Long thought to be culled from footage from "The Fairylogue and Radio-Plays" (a feature length stage and film show created and presented by Baum in 1908), this was proven not to be the case when the film was recovered. Although the only known "Fairylogue" film footage has decomposed (and the interactive nature of the presentation makes the discovery of another print unlikely), the slides, script, and production stills are available (and many have been reprinted in books and magazines) and clearly from another production, which emphasized material from "Ozma of Oz" that the descriptions of the Selig films imply was ignored.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1910 film) | Production history
The film premiered at the Orpheum Theatre in Green Bay, Wisconsin on August 10, 1939. The first sneak preview was held in San Bernardino, California. The film was previewed in three test markets: in Kenosha, Wisconsin and Dennis, Massachusetts on August 11, 1939, and at the Strand Theatre in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, on August 12. The Hollywood premiere was on August 15, 1939, at Grauman's Chinese Theatre. The New York City premiere, held at Loew's Capitol Theatre on August 17, 1939, was followed by a live performance with Garland and her frequent film co-star Mickey Rooney. They continued to perform there after each screening for a week.
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film) | Original theatrical run
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
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)
"We're Off to See the Wizard" is one of the classic and most memorable songs from the Academy Award-winning 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz". Composer Harold Arlen described it, along with "The Merry Old Land of Oz" and "Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead", as one of the "lemon drop" songs of the film. The lyrics are by E.Y. "Yip" Harburg. The melody's first appearance begins with the Munchkins reciting and Judy Garland echoing "Follow the Yellow Brick Road!", which turns into a group vocal by the Munchkins (while Garland skips and dances along the road) and then segues into ""You're" Off to See the Wizard".
We're Off to See the Wizard | Introduction
This was a reprise of "Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead" (blended with "We're Off to See the Wizard" and "The Merry Old Land of Oz") with the lyrics altered to "Hail! Hail! The witch is dead!" This started with the Witch's guard saying "Hail to Dorothy! The Wicked Witch is dead!" and dissolved to a huge celebration by the citizens of the Emerald City, who sang the song as they accompanied Dorothy and her friends to the Wizard. Today, the film of this scene is also lost, and only a few stills survive, along with a few seconds of footage used on several reissue trailers.
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film) | Deleted songs
Fleming, producer Mervyn LeRoy, associate producer Arthur Freed, and Roger Edens, who was Judy Garland's vocal coach and mentor, fought together to have the song reinserted back into the film and they eventually won. At the start of the film, part of the song is played by the MGM orchestra over the opening credits. A reprise of the song was deleted after being filmed. The reprise was to be sung by Dorothy while she was locked in the Wicked Witch's castle, helplessly awaiting death as the hourglass is running out. Although the visual portion of that reprise is presumably lost, the soundtrack still exists and was included in the 2-CD Deluxe Edition of the film's soundtrack released by Rhino Entertainment in 1995.
Over the Rainbow | "The Wizard of Oz"
Most of the songs were first heard on radio on a fifteen-minute program called "MGM: Leo Is On the Air" a few months prior to the film's release. In what must have been an extremely unusual step at the time, the actual soundtrack versions of the songs were used.Brunswick Records had earlier recorded a single of "Over the Rainbow" as well as "The Jitterbug", a song eventually deleted from the film, but MGM had suppressed the recording because they wanted to preview the songs themselves. The radio preview proved a huge success and, through repeated live radio playings, "Over the Rainbow" soared to the top of the hit parade charts even before audiences saw the film.
Musical selections in The Wizard of Oz | Song previews
The music was written by Jō Hisaishi and Yuichiro Oda. The Lyrics were written by Keisuke Yamakawa. The English dubbed version featured new different lyrics by Sammy Cahn and Allen Byrns.
The Wizard of Oz (1982 film) | Music
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
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 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
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
The songs "Optimistic Voices" and "The Merry Old Land of Oz", and the Tin Man's instrumental dance to "If I Only Had a Heart", were omitted from the LP release; also gone were half of the orchestral main title music, half of the "Munchkinland" medley, the entire Professor Marvel sequence, the moments during the tornado scene during which Dorothy sees people – including Miss Gulch – flying past her window, the talking apple trees scene, the appearance of the witch on the roof of the Tin Man's cottage, the poppy field sequence, the moment when the Lion reads "Surrender Dorothy" in the sky, and the scene in the Haunted Forest in which the Tin Man is mysteriously lifted into the air.
Musical selections in The Wizard of Oz | MGM Soundtrack Album
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
The entire program, as well as the "Leo is On the Air" episode, is included as a supplement on the "Wizard of Oz" DVD.
Musical selections in The Wizard of Oz | Song previews
In 1989, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the film, the RSC script and score were adapted into an arena-style touring production in the U.S. According to "USA Today", the show was "Built to play about 70 stadiums across the country, the $5 million production opened Wednesday at Radio City Music Hall." The production, with many dramatic and, according to critics, ill-advised design features, was not well received and had a short run, closing quietly in 1990. The RSC production had its Australian premiere at the State Theatre, Melbourne in January to February 1991. The production played in December 1991 in Brisbane and January to February 1992 in Adelaide.
The Wizard of Oz (1987 musical) | 1989 The Wizard of Oz Live! Arena Show
"The Wizard of Oz" (1939) had its first New York run at the theatre. Jerry Lewis started as an usher at the theatre.
Capitol Theatre (New York City) | History
The witches are largely absent in this version; The Good Witch of the North appears, named Locasta, and The Wicked Witch of the East is a special effect. Toto, Dorothy's dog, was replaced by a cow named Imogene. The Wicked Witch of the West does not appear, and Glinda the Good Witch of the South, who had appeared only in Act Three, was written out by Mitchell in 1903. His re-write of that act was set in the Borderland that divides Oz and Glinda's Domain, as Dorothy and her friends try to escape Pastoria. New characters include King Pastoria II, Oz's true king working as a Kansas motorman and his girlfriend, Trixie Tryfle, a waitress.
The Wizard of Oz (1902 musical) | Production and early revivals
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
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
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 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
All compositions by Harold Arlen and E. Y. "Yip" Harburg except where noted.
The Wizard of Oz and Other Harold Arlen Songs | Track listing
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
Recording began in January 1996 at Silver Dragoon Studio, Norway,
Crypt of the Wizard | Recording
Revivals have featured Margaret Hamilton, Cass Daley, Mary Wickes and Phyllis Diller as the Wicked Witch of the West. Cathy Rigby has played Dorothy at The Muny. Among Gabrielson's many additions are a skeletal butler, "Tibia", serving the Wicked Witch. Other new characters include Joe, Banana Man, Queen of the Butterflies, Old Lady, Lord Growlie, the Wizard's daughter Gloria, and numerous witches. In addition to "Evening Star", "Song Macabre" and "Ghost Dance" are added to the Harold Arlen score. The song "The Jitterbug", which was cut from the film, is inserted instead of the poppy field scene. There is no Toto, Miss Gulch, Professor Marvel, Winkies, Flying Monkeys or magic shoes.
The Wizard of Oz (1942 musical) | Productions
A television adaptation of the production, featuring Oksana Baiul as Dorothy and Victor Petrenko as the Scarecrow, was telecast in 1996. This version used the RSC version and was filmed for television by the TNT Network with an all star cast, including newcomer Jewel as Dorothy and Joel Grey as the Wizard. Jackson Browne, Roger Daltrey and Nathan Lane played the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion, respectively. Debra Winger was the Wicked Witch. A cast album was made that includes more of the music from the show than the 1989 RSC recording as well as some dialogue. The Madison Square Garden, New York production opened in May 1997 for 48 performances.
The Wizard of Oz (1987 musical) | 1990s productions
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
The Wizard of Oz and Other Harold Arlen Songs is an album by American jazz trumpeter and arranger Shorty Rogers performing songs composed by Harold Arlen including several from "The Wizard of Oz". The album was issued by RCA Victor in 1959.
The Wizard of Oz and Other Harold Arlen Songs | Introduction
In the 1980s, a re-edited version of the film was released in Czechoslovakia. The film was dubbed into the Slovak language except for the songs, which were performed by Japanese singers (from the original Japanese music version). Some other foreign dubs, such as the Italian and Greek versions, had this premise edit as well.
The Wizard of Oz (1982 film) | 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
Live Wizardry is an album by Silly Wizard recorded live in concert at Sanders Theatre, Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1983. "Live Wizardry" was released by Green Linnet Records in 1988 and contained all but two of the tracks released in 1985 on the live albums "Golden Golden" and "Live in America." The omitted tracks are both instrumental medleys: "Mac's Fancy / The Cliffs Of Moher / "The Rose Of Red Hill / Clootie Dumplings / The Laird O' Drumblair / Sleepy Maggie" from "Golden Golden" and "The Green Fields Of Glentown / The Galtee / Bobby Casey's Number Two / A.B.
Live Wizardry | Introduction
As usual, Roger Edens was heavily involved as the unbilled musical associate of Freed. Incidental music was contributed by Stoll, Bassman, Robert Stringer and also Conrad Salinger. The songs were recorded in a studio before filming. Several of the recordings were completed while Buddy Ebsen, who was supposed to have played the Tin Man, was still with the cast. So while he had to be dropped from the cast due to illness from the aluminum powder makeup, his singing voice remains on the soundtrack. It is Jack Haley, who eventually played the role, that is seen and heard singing "If I Only Had A Heart", but Ebsen's voice is still heard on the group vocals of "We're Off To See The Wizard".
Musical selections in The Wizard of Oz | Introduction
"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
Teeter's recordings include "On Your Toes" (Broadway Revival Cast, 1983), "Lady, Be Good!" (Studio Cast, Roxbury Recordings, 1992), "The Musicality of Rodgers & Hart" (Compilation, 1997) and "The Wizard of Oz" (Original New York Cast, 1998 Grammy nomination).
Lara Teeter | Select recordings
Danko was severely injured when the smoke mechanism malfunctioned. At this point, the film began a long, arduous post-production. Herbert Stothart composed the film's background score, while A. Arnold Gillespie perfected the special effects, including many of the rear-projection shots. The MGM art department created matte paintings for many scene backgrounds.
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film) | Post-production