1. Aspects of Love
    1. Aspects of Love Opens
    2. ‘Love Changes Everything’ performed at Kennedy memorial
  2. Bombay Dreams
    1. Andrew Lloyd Webber: 40 Musical Years
    2. Bombay Dreams Movie Announcement
    3. Bombay Dreams opens
  3. By Jeeves
    1. The film version of By Jeeves is released
  4. Cats
    1. Andrew Lloyd Webber: 40 Musical Years
    2. Stagecoach perform Cats at the NIA
    3. The film version of Cats is released
  5. Evita
    1. Andrew Lloyd Webber: 40 Musical Years
    2. Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar Tony nominations
    3. Andrew helps the Dutch find their Evita
    4. The 2006 revival of Evita
  6. Jesus Christ Superstar
    1. Andrew Lloyd Webber: 40 Musical Years
    2. Jesus Christ Superstar to tour Australia
    3. Jesus Christ Superstar UK Arena Tour 2013
    4. Jesus Christ Superstar LIVE Arena Tour DVD/Blu-Ray released!
    5. Andrew joins the cast on stage at the M.E.N. [Photos]
    6. Stars turn out for opening weekend of Jesus Christ Superstar
    7. Fourth London show added to Arena Tour!
    8. Watch the official trailer for ITV’s Superstar
    9. First O2 show sold out! Second date added
    10. Superstar – Live Show Announcement
    11. Jesus Christ Superstar UK Arena Tour
    12. Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar Tony nominations
    13. Andrew announces casting panel for ITV1 Superstar
    14. ITV1 and Andrew Lloyd Webber today announce ‘Superstar’
    15. Jesus Christ Superstar celebrates 40 years!
    16. Jesus Christ Superstar on Broadway
    17. Jesus Christ Superstar to move to La Jolla Playhouse
    18. Andrew and Tim Rice appear on The Culture Show
    19. The 25th Anniversary production of Jesus Christ Superstar
    20. Jesus Christ Superstar Opens in London
  7. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
    1. Joseph voted Best Musical Revival
    2. Lee Mead’s final performance as Joseph in the West End
    3. Joseph is still amazing audiences 40 years on
    4. Supporting Children in Need
    5. ‘Any Dream Will Do’ reaches number one in the UK singles chart
    6. The London Palladium revival of Joseph
  8. Love Never Dies
    1. Love Never Dies number 1 in mid-week charts
    2. Love Never Dies released in the UK
    3. Love Never Dies US Movie Release
    4. Andrew attends Love Never Dies final performance at The Adelphi
    5. Love Never Dies receives 10 Helpmann Award nominations
    6. Andrew attends Love Never Dies premiere in Melbourne
    7. Love Never Dies’ Leading Men win Whatsonstage.com Awards
    8. Love Never Dies Australian premiere announced
    9. Love Never Dies album number one across key retailers in China
    10. Andrew and Katherine Jenkins on Dancing On Ice
    11. Andrew Lloyd Webber to appear on Weekend Wogan this Sunday
    12. ‘Love Never Dies’ premieres at The South Bank Show Awards
    13. Love Never Dies World Exclusive for The South Bank Show Awards
    14. Love Never Dies global launch
  9. Song and Dance
    1. Song and Dance Opens
  10. Starlight Express
    1. Starlight Express celebrates 20 years of productions in Bochum, Germany
    2. Starlight Express opens
  11. Stephen ward
    1. Pre-order “Theme from Stephen Ward”
  12. Sunset Boulevard
    1. Sunset Boulevard opens in LA
  13. Tell Me on a Sunday
    1. Andrew Lloyd Webber: 40 Musical Years
    2. Tell Me on a Sunday national tour, starring Claire Sweeney
    3. Tell Me on a Sunday West End revival
  14. The Beautiful Game
    1. Andrew and Ben Elton in Toronto
    2. The Boys in the Photograph opens in Canada
    3. Andrew and Ben visit Liverpool
    4. The Beautiful Game opens
  15. The Likes of Us
  16. The Phantom of the Opera
    1. Andrew Lloyd Webber: 40 Musical Years
    2. Phantom to tour North America
    3. Andrew at The Phantom of the Opera 25th Anniversary
    4. The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall
    5. Phantom celebrates 10,000 performances in the West End
    6. 9,000 performances of Phantom on Broadway
    7. The Phantom of the Opera goes digital!
    8. The opening of The Phantom of the Opera
  17. The Sound of Music
    1. Andrew attends The Sound of Music in Norwich
    2. Backstage with Connie Fisher
    3. Problem Solved, Elicia Mackenzie is Canada’s Maria
    4. Andrew appears in Hollyoaks
    5. How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? nominated for Emmy Award
    6. Canada to be the next nation to Solve a Problem Like Maria…
    7. The Sound of Music opens at the London Palladium
  18. The Wizard of Oz
    1. Danielle Wade wins CBC’s Over The Rainbow
    2. Wizard of Oz nominated in 2012 Olivier Awards
    3. There’s NOSE place like home
    4. Royal Variety Performance broadcast
    5. Andrew Lloyd Webber to greet the Royal Party at this year’s Royal Variety Performance
    6. Over The Rainbow…Where Are They Now?
    7. We’re off to see the Wizard – and it’s Michael Crawford!
    8. Andrew visits Cardiff for a special announcement about Sophie Evans
    9. Oz Blog: The winner is revealed
    10. The last Dorothy mission….
    11. Oz Blog: The Final Countdown
    12. Danielle you are Dorothy… and here comes Dangerous Dave as Toto!
    13. Danielle, Lauren and Sophie have a go at Polo!
    14. The winning Dorothy to release charity single
    15. Sierra meets the Dorothys!
    16. Oz: Blog: Andrew makes his final choice and the final three are revealed
    17. Oz Blog: The Fantastic Four
    18. Andrew meets Bobby…
    19. Oz Blog: The second sing-off
    20. Oz Blog: A Dorothy Cull…
    21. We’re off to see The Wizard of Oz!
    22. From Nancy to Dorothy: A message from Sam and Niamh
    23. Oz Blog: An Emotional Goodbye
    24. Oz Blog: An audience with the Lord
    25. Andrew and the Dorothys get ready for their close up…
    26. An Over the Rainbow update from Andrew
    27. Andrew gets ready for next week’s Over The Rainbow
    28. It’s Toto time for Andrew…
    29. Oz Blog: Standing ovations as we say another goodbye
    30. Oz Blog: A chorus of Angels…
    31. Oz Blog: Another sad goodbye…
    32. Behind the scenes at Over The Rainbow
    33. Oz Blog: Making a Song and Dance
    34. Oz Blog: It’s goodbye to another of our Dorothies…
    35. Oz Blog: A Class Act
    36. Oz Blog: The first Dorothy flies over the rainbow
    37. Oz Blog: The first live show… and the public get to choose
    38. Oz Blog: 20 become 10…
    39. Oz Blog: Over The Rainbow kicks off with weekend special
    40. BBC ONE Follows the Yellow Brick Road, Over the Rainbow
    41. Andrew in Manchester
    42. Andrew begins his search for Dorothy
    43. Could you be Dorothy?
  19. The Woman in White
    1. The Woman in White opens
  20. Whistle Down the Wind
    1. Boyzone reach number one with ‘No Matter What’
    2. Whistle Down The Wind opens in the West End
Home / Shows / The Wizard of Oz / We’re off to see the Wizard – and it’s Michael Crawford!
We're off to see the Wizard – and it's Michael Crawford!

24th, September, 2010

We’re off to see the Wizard – and it’s Michael Crawford!

MICHAEL CRAWFORD is to star as The Wizard in ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’s new production of THE WIZARD OF OZ.

Michael, internationally renowned for originating the title role in The Phantom of the Opera and loved by millions for his role as the hapless Frank Spencer in the classic British sitcom, Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em, will star alongside DANIELLE HOPE, the winner of the BBC’s smash hit Over The Rainbow, when the show opens at the LONDON PALLADIUM next year.

Danielle captured the hearts of the country and will now step into the ruby slippers of Dorothy, the role immortalised by Judy Garland.

They will be joined by Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion and Dorothy’s little dog Toto – as the most magical adventure of all comes to the West End. With brand new songs by ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER and TIM RICE, The Wizard of Oz previews from Monday 7th February 2011 (Press Night: Tuesday 1st March at 7pm).

An eagerly anticipated new addition to London’s West End, The Wizard of Oz promises to be the biggest theatre event of the year. Developed from the ever-popular 1939 MGM screenplay, The Wizard of Oz is an enchanting adaptation of the all-time classic, totally reconceived for the stage by the award-winning creative team who delighted audiences of all ages with their recent London Palladium revival of The Sound of Music.

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

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

Andrew Lloyd Webber said, “We will be going a lot further than simply presenting the movie on stage. We have re-visited the original novel and re-conceived our “Oz” as a piece of new musical theatre using the wonderful Arlen/Harburg songs and adding a few new ones where there are gaps.  I am really looking forward to bringing The Wizard of Oz to life on stage. I am delighted that Michael Crawford, a legend of musical theatre, will take on the role of the Wizard and can’t wait to work with him once more”.

Michael Crawford said, “I didn’t hesitate at all when Andrew asked me to take on the role of the Wizard. Working with him and Tim on a brand new production of this timeless classic is so thrilling and I am already looking forward to starting rehearsals later in the year.”

Michael Crawford’s hugely successful career spans four decades, and includes his unforgettable performance in the hit show Barnum at the London Palladium, and the role of Count Fosco in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Woman in White. He is a multi Olivier and Tony-award winning star whose acclaim encompasses theatre, television and film and he was appointed an OBE in 1988.

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

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

Further news will be released in October.