kiwitechgirl
|
Re: Help - I'm confused | AntoniaGrey wrote: | Hey there 
Our community theatre is looking to do The Wizard of Oz as its next show. Looked up versions - and there's so many! EEK!
1. What are the different MUSICAL versions?
2. How long do they go for? (some looked awfully short)
3. Cast size? Age?
4. Rights - who has the liscence in Australia??
If you can answer any or all of these questions it would be very much appreciated!
Thanks |
1. There are two musical versions: the MUNY version (much closer to the original book) and the RSC version, which is almost a carbon copy of the film. The RSC version is much more complex technically, but also much more recognisable to audiences, I think.
2. I assume you mean running time? I did the RSC version a couple of years back and playing time was about 2 hours, split slightly unequally (Act 1 ran about an hour and 5, act 2 about 55 mins). We did cut the Jitterbug though, so that would add about 4-5 minutes on.
3. Four leads (our Dorothy was early 20s, the Lion, Scarecrow and TinMan 20s-30s), two witches (can be any age really), Aunt Em, who sometimes doubles Glinda (older), Uncle Henry - our Uncle Henry doubled the Oz guard (older), Professor Marvel, who of course doubles the Wizard (older); we had six chorus girls and five boys(teens and 20s), who were Ozians and Winkies, plus four flying monkeys (teens and 20s). We also had about 20 kids as Munchkins. I don't know that you'd want to do it with any fewer than that!
4. Tams-Witmark hold the rights to both versions; I have no idea who their Australian reps are.
|
