Michael Crawford News

WESTCHESTER BROADWAY THEATRE is Proud To Present I DO! I DO! February 10 - March 20, 2011

Last week, the Wizard of Oz cast joined members of the creative team for technical rehearsals at the London Palladium. We caught up with some of the cast as they had their first glimpse of the wonderful world of Oz, and our Resident Director Kate introduces us to some of the many talented departments working on the show. You might recognise our previous interviewee Rob Jones and blogger Matt Towell in there!

We caught up with the Wizard of Oz cast during the last few weeks of rehearsals - here they all are to say hello!

Recently, members of The Wizard of Oz creative team popped along to a film studio to shoot a very special bit of 'Green Screen' footage that will be used in the upcoming production. Here, resident director Kate Golledge, takes us behind the scenes to see what went on - let us know if you spot the footage in the show!

Wizard of Oz Production Manager Matt takes us back to the London Palladium to see how the theatre's looking as the first preview approaches - only a few weeks to go!

In the second part of our interview with Wizard of Oz Set and Costume Designer Rob Jones, he tells us how everything in Oz land is coming together...

A short clip of our Dorothy, Danielle Hope, as she rehearses with her Toto ahead of Opening Night - which is drawing ever closer!

Check out the first instalment of our interview with Rob Jones, Wizard of Oz Set and Costume Designer, who reveals the details of the design process from sketchbook to stage - and how he and his team work with Production Manager and regular Oz Blogger Matt Towell to create the fantastic land of Oz…

We head back to the Wizard of Oz rehearsal rooms to catch up with some of the company's swings - Olly, Becky, Ceili and Anna - who take some time out to explain to us exactly what being a swing means!

Andrew Lloyd Webber's new The Wizard of Oz promises to be the biggest theatre event of the year, combining all the much-loved songs from the Oscar-winning movie score with new songs. Now, the full cast for the much anticipated show has been revealed. Joining the previously announced MICHAEL CRAWFORD (Professor Marvel/The Wizard of Oz), DANIELLE HOPE (Dorothy), EDWARD BAKER-DULY (Hickory/Tin Man), DAVID GANLY (Zeke/Cowardly Lion), PAUL KEATING (Hunk/Scarecrow), EMILY TIERNEY (Glinda), and HANNAH WADDINGHAM (Miss Gulch/Wicked Witch of the West) are: SOPHIE EVANS (Alternate Dorothy), STEPHEN SCOTT (Uncle Henry/Ensemble, first cover Professor Marvel/The Wizard of Oz), and HELEN WALSH (Aunt Em/Munchkin Barrister/Ensemble).

In his latest update, Production Manager Matt Towell takes us backstage at the London Palladium (which turned 100 on 26th December 2010) to see how the set's progressing as we move ever-closer to Opening Night…

Amanda Holden is pregnant but still playing our imprisoned princess in Shrek, Dorothy seeks the Wizard, and the Open Air Theatre promises another musical extravaganza...

One of the most beloved stories of all time comes to life in White River Junction when Northern Stage, the region's professional theater, stages L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz from December 8 - January 2.

Rock tenor Rob Evan is perhaps most famous for his essaying of the dual title roles in Frank Wildhorn's JEKYLL & HYDE ten years ago on Broadway - and playing the leads in the new rock reinterpretation of the score known as JEKYLL & HYDE: RESURRECTION - but since that time he has appeared in entertainment entities as diverse as LES MISERABLES, Disney's TARZAN, Alan Menken & Howard Ashman's LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, concert performances of CHESS, THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER, The Dream Engine and, of course, his muse-like work for Paul O'Neill, creator and composer of the international phenomenon known as the Trans Siberian Orchestra, as well as the Lord of Excess himself and a rock god like none other, BAT OUT OF HELL visionary Jim Steinman. There's a lot more to the story of Evan, Steinman and DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES than may seem at first bite. In this exclusive conversation, Evan and I discuss his many stage and concert appearances, as well as his extensive studio work - including BATMAN and many new, unheard compositions - with the resplendent and reclusive rock icon known to friends as just Jimmy. Here's a big bloody bite of my conversation with Rob Evan, who can be seen in a number of upcoming appearances on concert stages across the world, including his upcoming ROCK TENOR series of shows. More information is available at his official site here.

According to Andrew Lloyd Webber's official website, the composer is set to join the New Year's Eve festivities at London's Palladium Theatre. Back in October, Webber announced plans to remodel the Palldium, which just celebrated it's 100th birthday.

According to Andrew Lloyd Webber's official website, the composer is set to join the New Year's Eve festivities at London's Palladium Theatre. Back in October, Webber announced plans to remodel the Palldium, which just celebrated it's 100th birthday.

Talking to the UK Telegraph, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber tells the paper that The Wizard of Oz, which opens in February 2011 in London (and already has a $13+ million dollar advance) will play America next, with talks underway to do a television casting show for Dorothy as he's done in the UK. Britain's loss could be America's gain, however. 'A couple of the networks in the US have wanted to build something around what I do on TV, and I think with Oz something is definitely going to happen there. The X Factor juggernaut is going to be huge there next year but other networks are looking for something to go against it. Once we've found a Dorothy in the US, my instinct is to open the show in Kansas [Dorothy's home].'

2010 was a year filled with all sorts of exciting BroadwayWorld interviews - here's some of this year's highlights!

More from Production Manager Matt Towell as he shows us how the London Palladum is being transformed - this time we're BELOW the stage - and it's a bit noisy again!

Earlier this week, Dorothy, Danielle Hope performed 'Over the Rainbow' at the Royal Variety Performance in London at the Palladium. Michael Crawford, who will play The Wizard, introduced the segment.