Lloyd Webber: "Television shows have considerably increased theatre-going"

In the midst of filming his new BBC reality show, Over The Rainbow, in which he searches for the perfect 'Dorothy' for the upcoming West End production of The Wizard of Oz, Andrew Lloyd Webber reflects on the positive impact television reality specials have had on live theater, and how the small screen has helped him reach new fans.

Following the success of How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?, Any Dream Will Do and I'd Do Anything, Over The Rainbow reunites host Graham Norton and Andrew Lloyd Webber, who, along with a brand new panel of experts (Sheila Hancock, Charlotte Church and John Partridge) and BBC One viewers, will choose a Dorothy to perform in the West End production of The Wizard Of Oz next year. The show transmits with a weekend special on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 March, then the live studio shows start on Saturday 3 April (time tbc).

Despite expected negative backlash on the "reality star" approach to casting theater, Webber, vacationing in Barbaros, writes in an open letter to readers of the U.K. Telegraph: "The television shows have considerably increased theatre-going in general. In a recent MORI poll conducted for the Society of London Theatre (SOLT), 47 per cent of those questioned said that they were more likely to see the show featured on television, but interestingly 34 per cent said that they might see any musical. Even more excitingly, 23 per cent said that they were now more likely to see a play or comedy. Based on the average number of viewers who saw Maria, that means potentially nearly two million people said they might also try a play. That this is the case was confirmed by the record 14,257,922 people who went to a West End show last year. In 2007, the year after Maria, an extra 1.25 million people visited plays, musicals, opera and dance in the capital. Many theatres, according to SOLT, reported an overwhelming number of first-time visitors."

To read Lloyd Webber's full open letter in the Telegraph, click here.

Viewers will see thousands of hopefuls turning up at open auditions across the country in Friday night's show, in a bid to become the newest star of the West End.

As the selection process continues, Saturday's show will showcase the final 20 "Dorothys" in a studio-based "sing-off"' - judged by the panel and Andrew, who will make a selection down to 10 girls.

In a surprise "wild card" element of the show, after the panel - led by Andrew Lloyd Webber - has agreed upon the 10 finalists, viewers will be invited to vote to save one of the girls who doesn't get through the panels' vote, to return next week.

Telephone lines will open for a set amount of time after these 10 girls have all performed a sing-off song and the contestant with the most votes will be revealed the following week, in the first live show to air on 3 April.

Viewers will find out the results of the "wild card" vote, and the 10 Dorothys will perform for their chance to stay in the competition and be critiqued by the panel and Andrew.

Viewers have the opportunity to cast their votes and the outcome will be announced in the results show. The two contestants with the least amount of votes will perform a "sing-off" and Andrew Lloyd Webber will decide which contestant he wants to remain in the competition.

Andrew Lloyd Webber commented: "I would like to bring something new to The Wizard Of Oz. I'm searching for a modern Dorothy, who can take the role much further, and continue to appeal to a wide audience.

"The film worked fantastically but we need some new songs for the stage show in addition to the much-loved originals from the movie. Over The Rainbow is of course one of the greatest songs ever written."

Andrew Lloyd Webber is also searching for a Toto, for a one-off gala performance of The Wizard Of Oz, when it hits the West End stage next year.

Jodie Prenger (winner of 2008's I'd Do Anything and soon to play Lady Of The Lake in Spamalot on tour) will lead the search for Toto in April, at two open audition days. Viewers will be able to follow the dogs' progress across the series, as they do their best to charm dedicated cat man, Andrew Lloyd Webber!

 

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