Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber during a press conference with the final four remaining contestants in How DO You Solve a Problem Like Maria.Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail
Whoever wins the role of Dorothy on the series finale of Over the Rainbow – AJ, Danielle or Stephanie – she'll only be following the yellow brick road in Toronto for so long.
Andrew Lloyd Webber's retooled stage adaptation of The Wizard of Oz will embark on a North American tour next fall – television viewer-chosen lead in tow – the British composer and impresario tells the Globe and Mail.
Mirvish Productions confirms that the entire Canadian cast, set to open the musical at the Ed Mirvish theatre in December, will hit the road to other cities in Canada and across the border in the United States after Labour Day 2013. While the schedule is not yet set, The Wizard of Oz's producers hope to hit major American metropolises such as Chicago and Los Angeles on the tour.
It's been a while since Mirvish-backed production full of Canadians went on an extensive tour. The most recent similar situation was when Mamma Mia! had its North American premiere at the Royal Alexandra theatre in 2000, before the Toronto cast went on a pre-Broadway tour that hit cities such as San Francisco and Chicago.
The new production of The Wizard of Oz, which is currently selling tickets in Toronto until the end of March, is co-produced by Mirvish, Lloyd Webber's The Really Useful Group, Bill Kenwright, Troika Entertainment and Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures.
J. Kelly Nestruck