West End veteran Michael Crawford is to play the Wizard in Andrew Lloyd Webber's upcoming production of The Wizard of Oz.
Michael Crawford, the West End star who originated the role of the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera in 1986, has been confirmed as the Wizard in Lloyd Webber's latest venture, The Wizard of Oz.
The stage veteran will perform opposite Danielle Hope, who will play Dorothy having won the BBC reality TV show, Over the Rainbow. He'll also play opposite the programmes runner-up, Sophie Evans, who understudies Hope and will take the role on Tuesday nights.
Crawford won the Tony, the Olivier, the Drama Desk and the Outer Critics Circle Award for his performance as the Phantom and has worked with Lloyd Webber since by originating the role of Count Fosco in The Woman in White in 2004. This is the first time he's returned to the West End stage since he left The Woman in White after only three months due to health reasons caused by the fat-suit he had to wear for the role.
The Wizard of Oz, based on the book by L Frank Baum, is best known for the 1939 film starring Judy Garland and was adapted for stage in 1987. Lloyd Webber's Palladium production will include new songs by himself and writing partner, Tim Rice, to add to the songs written by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg. The show will be directed by Jeremy Sams and choreographed by Arlene Phillips, both of whom worked on Lloyd Webber's award winning revival of The Sound of Music.
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