Lord Webber follows the Yellow Brick Road, with Over The Rainbow
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.
Joining Lord Webber and Norton are a brand new panel of experts; Sheila Hancock, Charlotte Church and John Partridge plus the BBC One viewers. The Prize: To become Dorothy and 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.
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.
The 61-year-old composer, responsible for such classic musicals as The Phantom Of The Opera, Cats, Evita, Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Starlight Express, Sunset Boulevard, The Woman In White and Aspects Of Love, adds that “she has to be a great actress with a great sense of humour and be able to sing brilliantly. She also has to be capable of holding centre-stage – she’s virtually never off-stage during the whole show. And that’s before I even get to the real list of qualities I’m looking for!
“She doesn’t have to be conventionally beautiful. The main thing she has to do is break your heart. The show is about a bored teenager from Kansas who wants to get away from home, but ends up discovering that home is where the heart is. Our Dorothy has to take us on that journey. It would be fabulous if we found a modern version of Judy Garland.”
The shows which search for musical theatre stars have really chimed with TV audiences. Andrew, whose eagerly awaited sequel to The Phantom Of The Opera, Love Never Dies, has just opened in the West End, explains why these programmes resonate with viewers.
“These shows have genuinely struck a chord with people. It really works when TV audiences can identify with the role you’re casting.
“People also love the fact that they feel part of the process of choosing a performer for something they can actually go and see. People know that the girl who wins Over The Rainbow will be on stage and they’ll be able to see her for the next 18 months, or whatever. Because of that, people invest more and take the voting far more seriously.”
The Wild Card
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) 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!
Over The Rainbow Live Events
This May, Over The Rainbow fans are invited to have a go at singing at a series of free events around the country. The Over The Rainbow Live Events will give thousands of participants the chance to take part in their own musical theatre experience, with help from the BBC Singers, BBC musicians and some very special guests.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve never sung before – the events are aimed at beginners and open to everyone.
The Over The Rainbow Live Events will visit four UK cities in May – full details of the events and how to apply for tickets will be available online from April.
Shows to begin Friday 26 March, Show to air 21.00-22.00. Live shows start Saturday 3 April, times tbc
Over The Rainbow: Oz Facts
Ten auditionees turned up to the regional auditions dressed as Dorothy, complete with gingham dresses and pigtails, and over 100 contestants turned up with various versions of ruby red slippers (including a pair of red Doc Martins!).
Only one contestant with the true name Dorothy auditioned for Over The Rainbow.
Three auditionees brought their own dogs with them – a pug, a Chihuahua and a Westie – to add some authenticity to their auditions!
Seven pairs of ruby slippers were made for film The Wizard of Oz.
Only five pairs have a known whereabouts. Actress Debbie Reynolds owns a pair.
During the filming of the Munchkinland scene, the witch’s (played by Margaret Hamilton) hat, broom and cloak caught fire and she suffered severe second and third degree burns on her hands and lower face.
Shirley Temple was the original first choice to play Dorothy, but producer Mervyn LeRoy did not believe she had the singing talent and 20th Century Fox would not loan her to MGM.
Judy Garland had been signed for another movie role when the opportunity to play Dorothy came up, but was released from her contract. The movie? Gone With The Wind.
Toto was played by a dog called Terry and even has his own IMDb page.
Author Frank L Baum came up with ‘Oz’ as the magical place where Dorothy lands from the letters on his filing cabinet. The drawers were divided in A-N and O-Z.
Gelatine dessert crystals were used to colour the Emerald City horses – a make-up consistently reapplied when the animals eagerly licked it off.
Reacting to criticisms that followed the first sneak preview of the film, studio head Louis B. Mayer decided to remove the ‘Over The Rainbow‘ musical sequence. After much intervention, the milestone song was restored.
Jack Haley Jr. (son of the actor who played the Tin Man) and Liza Minnelli (daughter of Judy Garland) were husband and wife from 1974 to 1979.
Purchase The Wizard Of Oz: 70th Anniversary Edition (3 Disc Combi Pack: Blu-Ray & DVD) (Blu-ray)
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- 20th Century Fox, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Aspects Of Love, BBC One, Cats, Charlotte Church, Dorothy, Evita, Frank L Baum, Graham Norton, Jesus Christ Superstar, John Partridge, Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Love Never Dies, Mervyn LeRoy, Over The Rainbow, Over The Rainbow Live, Red Slippers, Sheila Hancock, Shirley Temple, Starlight Express, Sunset Boulevard, The Phantom Of The Opera, The Wizard of Oz, The Woman In White, Toto, West End, Yellow Brick Road
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