The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (musical)
Encyclopedia
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a musical play based on the novel of the same title
by L. Frank Baum
that premiered at the Toronto Civic Light Opera Company in 2000. 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.
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 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.
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, Flying Monkeys, Winkies, Hammerheads, Fighting Trees, Quadlings
The role of Dorothy was originally played by Kelly Sanders in 2000 and 2002. In the 2010 production, Olivia Stupka and Alisa Berindea alternated in the role of Dorothy. Members of the original casts to reprise their original roles again in 2010 were Bryan Chamberlain as the Tin Woodman, David Haines as the Cowardly Lion, Joe Cascone as L. Frank Baum/Wizard, Julie Lennick as the Wicked Witch of the West, Carol Kugler as the Mouse Queen, Sandi Horwitz as Locasta and Susan Sanders (originally in the ensemble, now playing Aunt Em).
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a children's novel written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W. W. Denslow. Originally published by the George M. Hill Company in Chicago on May 17, 1900, it has since been reprinted numerous times, most often under the name The Wizard of Oz, which is the name of...
by L. Frank Baum
L. Frank Baum
Lyman Frank Baum was an American author of children's books, best known for writing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz...
that premiered at the Toronto Civic Light Opera Company in 2000. 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.
Background
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 WizThe Wiz
The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical "Wonderful Wizard of Oz" is a musical with music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls and book by William F. Brown. It is a retelling of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in the context of African American culture. It opened on October 21, 1974 at the Morris A...
and several others. In writing the libretto
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
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 Maid of Arran
The Maid of Arran, An Idyllic Irish Drama Written for the People, Irrespective of Caste or Nationality is an 1882 musical play by L. Frank Baum, writing and performing under the pseudonym, "Louis F. Baum", based on the novel A Princess of Thule by William Black...
, the 1902 Wizard, The Woggle-Bug, The Tik-Tok Man of Oz
The Tik-Tok Man of Oz
The Tik-Tok Man of Oz is a musical play with book and lyrics by L. Frank Baum and music by Louis F. Gottschalk that opened in Los Angeles, California on March 31, 1913. It is loosely inspired by Baum's book, Ozma of Oz , and the basis for his 1914 novel, Tik-Tok of Oz. It was promoted as "A...
, Prince Silverwings
Prince Silverwings
Prince Silverwings and Other Stories is a 1902 children's book by Edith Ogden Harrison. The book is best known because she collaborated with L. Frank Baum on an uncompleted stage adaptation of the book as a musical exravaganza...
, and The Patchwork Girl of Oz
The Patchwork Girl of Oz (1914 film)
The Patchwork Girl of Oz is a silent film made by L. Frank Baum's The Oz Film Manufacturing Company. It was based on the book The Patchwork Girl of Oz....
, which had not been heard in recent decades. 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
Hungry Tiger Press
Hungry Tiger Press is an American specialty publisher of books, compact discs, comic books and graphic novels, focused on the works of L. Frank Baum, other authors of Oz books, and related Americana. Perhaps most notably, the Press has published rare, early, long-neglected dramatic and musical...
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
Asilomar Conference Grounds
Asilomar Conference Grounds is a conference center built for the YWCA in 1913 at Asilomar State Beach in Pacific Grove, California. Julia Morgan designed and built 16 of the buildings on the property, of which 11 are still standing. It became part of Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds in...
in Pacific Grove, California
Pacific Grove, California
Pacific Grove is a coastal city in Monterey County, California, USA, with a population of 15,041 as of the 2010 census, down from 15,522 as of the 2000 census...
, on July 9, 2011.
Songs
The original cast album was recorded October 27, 2000, at Grace Church Chapel on the Hill, Toronto.- Just a Touch of Humbug (Baum and Co.)
- Gray (Dorothy)
- 'Round and Around (Aunt Em, Uncle Henry, Dorothy & Co.)
- Free! (Boq & Munchkins)
- The Wizard Who Lives in Oz (Locasta, Munchkins)
- Wicked Is What I Do (Wicked Witch & Co.) *
- Rags and Hay (Scarecrow)
- A Tin Man's Tale (Tin Woodman)
- 'Fraid Not (Lion)
- Dream for Me (Scarecrow, Tin Woodman & Lion)
- Further Along the Way (Four Friends)
- Pull Together (Mouse Queen & Co.)
- Finale Act I (Four Friends & Co.)
- Emerald City (Royal Army & Co.)
- Oz, the Great and Terrible (Wizard, Four Friends)
- Come Along with Me (Four Friends)
- The Golden Cap/Fly! (Wicked Witch, Monkeys)
- Nothing Special (Dorothy)
- Wicked Waltz of the West (Wicked Witch) *
- In the Castle of No Return (Wicked Witch, Winkies) - added to the 2010 production
- Reprise--Just a Touch of Humbug (Wizard & Co.)
- Even Further Along the Way (Baum, Four Friends & Co.)
- Reprise--Dream for Me (Glinda) *
- This Land of Oz (Glinda & Co.)
- Cut from subsequent productions
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
Cast of Characters
- L. Frank Baum/Wizard of Oz
- Dorothy GaleDorothy GaleDorothy Gale is the protagonist of many of the Oz novels by American author L. Frank Baum, and the best friend of Oz's ruler Princess Ozma. Dorothy first appears in Baum's classic children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and reappears in most of its sequels...
- Toto
- Aunt EmAunt EmAunt Em is a fictional character from the Oz books. She is the aunt of Dorothy Gale and wife of Uncle Henry, and lived together with them on a farm in Kansas...
- Uncle Henry
- Locasta, Good Witch of the North
- ScarecrowScarecrow (Oz)The Scarecrow is a character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum and illustrator William Wallace Denslow. In his first appearance, the Scarecrow reveals that he lacks a brain and desires above all else to have one. In reality, he is only two days old and merely...
- Tin WoodmanTin WoodmanThe Tin Woodman, sometimes referred to as the Tin Man or the Tin Woodsman , is a character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum...
- Cowardly LionCowardly LionThe Cowardly Lion is the main character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum. He is a Lion, but he talks and interacts with humans....
- Queen of Field Mice
- Wicked Witch of the WestWicked Witch of the WestThe Wicked Witch of the West is a fictional character and the most significant antagonist in L. Frank Baum's children's book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz...
- Flying Monkey King
- Hungry TigerHungry TigerThe Hungry Tiger is a fictional character from The Oz books by L. Frank Baum.The Hungry Tiger is a massive beast who is friends with the Cowardly Lion. He is always hungry, no matter how much he eats, and longs to eat a "fat baby," though he never would because his conscience will not allow him to...
- Glinda, Good Witch of the South
and various Farmers, Munchkins, Crows, Kalidahs, Poppies, Field Mice, Emerald City Citizens, Flying Monkeys, Winkies, Hammerheads, Fighting Trees, Quadlings
The role of Dorothy was originally played by Kelly Sanders in 2000 and 2002. In the 2010 production, Olivia Stupka and Alisa Berindea alternated in the role of Dorothy. Members of the original casts to reprise their original roles again in 2010 were Bryan Chamberlain as the Tin Woodman, David Haines as the Cowardly Lion, Joe Cascone as L. Frank Baum/Wizard, Julie Lennick as the Wicked Witch of the West, Carol Kugler as the Mouse Queen, Sandi Horwitz as Locasta and Susan Sanders (originally in the ensemble, now playing Aunt Em).