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We’re off to see the Wizard … on stage

By Diana Lasko dlasko@heraldstandard.Com 2 min read
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Submitted Photo

Dorothy and the Scarecrow in “The Wizard of Oz” on stage at the Heinz Hall Jan. 6-11.

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Go over the rainbow with Dorothy and the Munchkins in "The Wizard of Oz" at Heinz Hall Jan. 6-11.

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Scrarecrow, Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion and the Tin Man encounter the Wicked Witch of the West in "The Wizard of Oz" at Heinz Hall Jan. 6-11. ADmission: $31-$78. Tickets: trustarts.org/broadway.

Click your heels together for a new stage adaptation of “The Wizard Of Oz” which arrives in the New Year.

The North American tour of ‘Oz’ will be presented by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh series, Jan. 6-11 at Heinz Hall.

This production of “The Wizard of Oz” is an enchanting adaptation of the all-time classic. Developed from the ever popular MGM screenplay, this new production contains the beloved Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg songs from the Oscar®-winning movie score, all the favorite characters and iconic moments, plus a few surprises along the way, including new songs by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

“The reason Andrew added new songs was that three of the main characters in the film (the Wizard, Glinda and the Wicked Witch of the West) actually didn’t have songs,” said Choreographer Arlene Phillips.

In order to realize the show as a full-scale musical, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Director Jeremy Sams made the decision to add more music throughout the show according to Phillips.

“The additional songs better illuminate the characters. The Wicked Witch’s song ‘Red Shoes Blues’ is a thrilling production number that opens the second act and Glinda’s moving ballad ‘Already Home’ carries the audience – and Dorothy – to the end of the story. New underscoring throughout the show also adds dimension to the scenes,” Phillips explains.

“The Wizard of Oz” had its world premiere at The London Palladium Theatre in March of 2011. After a successful West End run, the production had its North American premiere in Toronto in December of 2012, and then embarked on a U.S. tour beginning in September of 2013.

In addition to Phillips, the national tour of “The Wizard of Oz” will feature the same award-winning creative team from London and Toronto: Jeremy Sams (direction), Robert Jones (set and costume design), Hugh Vanstone (lighting design), Mick Potter (sound design), Jon Driscoll and Daniel Brodie (video/projection design), David Cullen (orchestrations) and Graham Hurman (musical supervision). Toto is provided by William Berloni.

North Huntingdon native Nick Morgan will perform as part of the ensemble and three Point Park alumni–Dorsey Ziller, Dominick Sannelli and Will Geoghegan–are also in the ensemble cast.

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