The Wizard of Oz

[The Phantom]

I've seen the movie but I never saw the stage version, though I was suppose to a long time ago but I got sick that day with my third grade class or something. But I'm excited about possibly being in this musical because the local Theater House is having auditions for "The Wizard of Oz" in January. I'm not sure who I'd want to be yet. ;)

[angelofmusic]

^^ Same here. I wish I could see the stage version. If I could be in Wizard of Oz, I would probably try out for Dorothy. Theough, I'm not sure I would get the part. I love the music. :) "Somewhere over the rainbow."

[The Phantom]

Theres plenty of male roles in the musical so I might check out Tin Man, The Lion, the Wizard of Oz, or the Scarecrow. But I'd want to check out parts that sing a lot. This is my chance. ;)

[The_Persian]

when i was in england last year, i saw the pantomime or the Wizard of Oz... it was brillant!

[The Phantom]

I can't imagine seeing a pantomime version of it... without speaking as well I presume? That seems rather odd, lol. But I take your word for it, it must have been good!

[IamErik771]

Manoa Valley Theater did an outstanding production last year. Best of luck to you, Steve!

[The Phantom]

Thank you! I'm planning on possibly doing voice lessons so I can be of some quality by this January. I can sing but I'd love to be better than I am now. But hmm... I really can't decide which character I'd want to be.

[IamErik771]

Yes, that's always a good idea. No matter how good one gets, there's always room for improvement. :)

If you can't decide who you really want to play, are you allowed to audition for multiple characters, and let the director decide? That's what our local theaters normally do.

[The Phantom]

I'm not sure yet because this would be the first time I've done community theater where I live. I'm used to school plays and stuff, as well as Young Actor's Theater. Adults and Children combined will be auditioning for the parts in the Wizard of Oz. :)

[cinty]

I've seen it on stage. it was really marvellous! it was a huge production, so very very lavish and well done. I loved every minute. it also had an extra song, not in the movie, called "the jitterbug" which i absolutely loved. it was a brilliant show. I love the wizard of oz, so cute. i would to see it on stage again some day.

[The_Persian]

I can't imagine seeing a pantomime version of it... without speaking as well I presume? That seems rather odd, lol. But I take your word for it, it must have been good!

it had words and singing, (not a traditional pantomime, i know) but the really cool thing about it is that we got to join in! when dorothy or any other character asked a question, the audiance would yell the answer! eg: "Oh, wwheres todo?" "BEIND YOU!!" childish, but amusing

[Mystery]

I have only seen the movie version but I would love to see it on stage because i'm sure it would be thrilling. I love the storyline of this, but the wizard thing scared me as a little kid.

[Luciana]

I've seen the movie, but I've never seen the stage version. My third grade teacher made us read the book too, but it wasnt anywhere as good as the movie. That was one of my favorite movies growing up.

[Always_Erik_Fan]

I absolutely LOVE "The Wizard of Oz", but I never knew that there was a stage version... *feels culturally deprived*

My favorite character USED to be... *ponders* I suppose Glinda, but now would anyone care to guess who it is? *points to status*

And here's a question: Would the song "Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead" be from the stage production? *feels stupid but HAD to ask*

[IamErik771]

I've never seen the stage show, but I think the film was made first, and then they based the stage show on that. :D I'm now wondering how certain effects were done in a live performance (Glinda, the Wizard, the flying monkeys, etc.)

[The Phantom]

I'm not completely sure myself lol. Theres always the travellers that can have stuff hung on them and such like that. Card board monkies flying through the air, lol. Theres such a thing as stage magic. ;)

[Child of the Wilderness]

I was in Wizard of Oz in March....it was done as the usual school production. It was really good. I was a Lady of Oz.

The flying monkey's didn't fly as such...we had the Jitterbug song! I loved the routine!

[angelofmusic]

I'm really hoping that this church that puts on plays every summer decides to do the Wizard of Oz. My dad told me that when he saw it as a kid that he was absolutely scared of the flying monkeys. I don't blame him. They're freaky!!

[The Phantom]

Aww. I'm excited to see how the monkeys and stuff are going to be done. I know everything will be excellent no matter what.

[masquerading rose]

The high school my mom teaches at put on that play. Soon after, the Junior who played Dorthy got a record deal. The next year, she was in A Chritmas Carol. She had an amazing voice. She was my mom's student. She was also very smart.

[MystMoonstruck]

Of course, I have seen the film, and I'm sure I'm past 200 viewings thanks to, first, network showings then Turner Classic Movies. Ted Turner believes it shouldn't be trotted out only once a year, so they air it several times a year.

Oh! I watched a WOZ special in which they showed not only "The Jitterbug" number but also the extended version of "If I Only Had a Brain".

Did you know that they nearly cut "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" because they felt it slowed down the film?! Thank goodness, they came to their senses!

Sadly, I've never had the opportunity to see a stage production, but it's nice to know that they include "The Jitterbug", which was cut because they feared that the dance was a passing phase that would be quickly forgotten. A reference to that musical number still exists in the film. Listen to the Witch as she dispatches the flying monkeys to capture the travelers.

[PhAnToMeSs07]

I have never seen it on stage but of course I have seen the movie. Who hasn't? My eleventh grade English teacher was obsessed with it and at the end of the year, we got to go into the gym and do the thing as a play. She gave us all a script and we all alternated parts. I got to play Dorothy, The Wicked Witch of the West, and Aunt Em. It was a blast. I remember when I was little, the Wizard of Oz scared me but now I love it. The Wizard of Oz and Wicked have become my latest obsession. The songs are addictive too. They really get stuck in my head. When we did the play, I had Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead stuck in my head for a month, but I didn't mind. :)

[masquerading rose]

I believe the Wizard of Oz was the second musical I ever saw (Lion King was the first). I really loved it! And I still do! I was singing "Follow the yellow brick road" earlier, like ten minutes ago. I don't really know how to decribe it, but I really really really still like this movie. It was so cool when I was growing up, and it still makes me laugh today! :)

[Isabella Delancy]

It's really quite sad I've not posted in this thread considering...y'know, I am Glinda and all that. lol.

I love the Wizard of Oz. It's one of my favourite films of old. It was the first time I'd ever seen anything of its kind, and loved how it jumped from black and white to colour once they arrived in Munchkinland (was that the official name or just the one I dubbed it?). Judy Garland was my hero for so long, in that I inspired to look and sing like her (not in that I wanted to drop a house on anyone...*cough*).

I've seen one stage production of it, but always wanted to see a big stage production since the one I saw was done by amateurs...very good amateurs I hasten to add, but still not a professional team of actors. I'd love to see how they have people (and the house) flying - I know there are ways...strings and such but it's still always interesting to see - for me at least. And I want to see a really scary portrayal of the Wicked Witch of the West since she's supposed to be really scary and I've yet to see one to match the film's depiction of her.

[Jacqueline L'e Phantome]

Ive seen it but i like Wicked better

[angelgirl]

I was a Munchkin and a Monkey in our local theatre's production of this back in 2000 and I had a blast! This is a really wonderful musical!
(Of course, I'm still small enough to be one!)
A.G.

[xXphantomaddictedXx]

Oh, wow! I cannot believe I did not see this thread earlier! *smacks head in disbelief*

Anyway, I have seen the movie at least a hundred times, if not more than that, because The Wizard of Oz was my favorite movie when I was seven-and-a-half and eight. My favorite character was (and still is) the Tin Man.

I also had the luck to see it performed live in July of 2004, when my city's theater did a production of it. Also, in October of 2004, another theater in my city did a production of the show. This one was special because one of the original Lollipop Kids from the movie (his name is Jerry Maren) was signing autographs before the show! And I was lucky enough to get one!

I do agree that "The Jitterbug" is a great song. It's right up there on my list of favorites along with "If I Only Had A Heart." :D