New cast members have been announced for The Wizard of Oz which will start previews at the London Palladium on June 23rd, with an official opening night scheduled for July 6th, and performances due to run until September 3rd.
Continuing as Glinda the Good Witch from the Leicester Curve production will be Christina Bianco. The actress has gained notoriety with her “diva” impression videos and will also perform a concert series next month at the Menier Chocolate Factory.
The role of the Wicked Witch of the West will be played by Dianne Pilkington who will star alongside Ashley Banjo as the Tin Man, Louis Gaunt as the Scarecrow, Jason Manford as the Cowardly Lion, and Gary Wilmot as the Wizard. Further casting for the show, including for the role of Dorothy, is set to be announced in due course.
The plot of The Wizard of Oz follows the fortunes of Kansas teenager Dorothy and her pet dog Toto. When a powerful tornado rips through their home and sweeps the pair up and far away to a new world, Dorothy joins up with a lion, a tin man, and a scarecrow to seek out the famous Wizard Of Oz in the hope that he can help her to return home.
The musical features much-loved songs from the popular Hollywood 1939 movie starring Judy Garland, including the iconic "Somewhere Over The Rainbow.” Additional songs have also been added to the show by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, such as "Farewell to Oz" and "Red Shoes Blues."
The Wizard Of Oz will be directed by Nikolai Foster, with choreography by Shay Barclay, set design by Colin Richmond, sound design by Adam Fisher, costume and puppet design by Rachael Canning, and lighting design by Ben Cracknell.
Booking & Theatre Info For The Wizard Of Oz
The London Palladium is a large West End theatre which has a capacity of 2303 seats that are situated on three levels. There are excellent views available throughout the auditorium due to both the wide stage and steep rakes, and the venue has very few restrictions as there are no pillars or restrictive bars to obstruct the view, There is also only a very slight overhang from the upper tiers making the seats towards the rear in lower price bands good value for money.
The front section of the Dress Circle offers very good and panoramic views of the stage and is ideal for big productions especially for patrons who prefer to view the stage from an elevated position with the premium seats being located in the front and centre which will be reflected in the price. The middle of the Stalls also offers a great overall views of the stage and value can also be found in the front of this section as ticket prices are often reduced due to the height of the stage. Bargain hunters looking for cheap tickets to The Wizard Of Oz and those on a budget can also find good value in the front rows of the Upper Circle which can be great value for money if you don't mind leaning over a little! As always when booking London theatre tickets it is beneficial to study the seating plan prior to purchase however seats in the London Palladium marked as 'restricted view' can be good value for money, as any restrictions are minimal.