The Wizard of Oz

Vale Musical Society is proud to present this stage version of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, which was adapted for the Royal Shakespeare Company and premiered at the Barbican Centre in London in 1987. The production is a scene-by-scene adaptation of the film, including songs that were cut and full versions of songs that were reduced for the film.

Dorothy Gale lives on a Kansas farm with her Uncle Henry and Aunt Em. Her dog Toto is taken by Almira Gulch after he bites her, but Toto escapes back to Dorothy, who then runs away to protect him. She meets Professor Marvel, who helps her to believe that Aunt Em is heartbroken, so she returns home. A tornado approaches, she can’t get into the storm cellar, so she shelters in the farmhouse and is knocked unconscious. When she wakes, the house has been carried away to Munchkinland in the Land of Oz. She meets Glinda the Good Witch, and discovers that the house has fallen on, and killed, the Wicked Witch of the East. The Wicked Witch of the West wants to avenge her sister’s death by killing Dorothy, who travels to the Emerald City to see the Wizard, believing he can help her get home. She meets Scarecrow, TinMan, and Lion along the way. They have adventures together, meet the Wizard, foil the Wicked Witch, and Dorothy and Toto finally return home.

Dorothy is played by Poppy Crush, with Lion, TinMan, and Scarecrow played by Craig Allen, Paul Ham and James Grout. The Director is Neil Gurney and the Musical Director is Jill Neenan.