Michael Harrison and the Really Useful Group are thrilled to announce that The Wizard of Oz will conclude its major UK and Ireland tour with a season in London this summer, playing a strictly limited run of 38 performances only from Thursday 15 August – Sunday 8 September 2024 at the Gillian Lynne Theatre. Tickets go on general sale Thursday 28March at 10am.
STARRING
ASTON MERRYGOLD as THE TIN MAN | THE VIVIENNE as THE WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST
WITH
AVIVA TULLEY as DOROTHY, BENJAMIN YATES as THE SCARECROW, NIC GREENSHIELDS as THE COWARDLY LION and ABIGAIL MATTHEWS as TOTO.
FURTHER CASTING TO BE ANNOUNCED
Performances begin Thursday 15 August
This new production of the beloved musical, based on the iconic story by L. Frank Baum,also announces initial casting for London today, as JLS star Aston Merrygold (The Tin Man) and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner and Dancing on Ice finalist The Vivienne (The Wicked Witch of the West) are both confirmed to return to their celebrated roles. Further casting to be announced.
Aston Merrygold and The Vivienne will be joined in the West End by principal company members currently starring in the UK and Ireland touring production, including: Aviva Tulley(Book of Mormon, UK Tour) as Dorothy, Benjamin Yates (ITV’s Emmerdale; Jersey Boys, West End) as The Scarecrow, Nic Greenshields (Love Never Dies West End; Les Misérables West End, International Tour) as The Cowardly Lion and Abigail Matthews as Toto (Bleak Expectations, West End; War Horse, West End). See biogs HERE
Producer, Michael Harrison says of today’s announcement: “The Wizard of Oz was seen by an incredible 185,000 people at the London Palladium last summer and is currently smashing box office records on its U.K. tour, so it feels absolutely appropriate that we return this spectacular production to the West End during the summer holidays for 38 performances only, with an incredible cast led by Aston Merrygold and The Vivienne.”
To book tickets for the London season, and for information about specific casting go to www.wizardofozmusical.com.
JLS made their comeback last year and performed to sold-out arenas all over the UK and Ireland. Aston has continued to remain at the forefront of entertainment, becoming a judge on the Sky 1 talent show, Got To Dance. He was also unmasked as Robin in the Semi Finals of the 2020/2021 series of Masked Singer UK and joined the cast of CBBC’s comedy-drama, Almost Never, playing Jordan, the new manager of The Wonderland, was a panellist on the Masked Singer Live tour across the UK and starred as Willard in Footloose the Musical. Most recently, Aston hosted Heart FM’s Saturday Night 00s Show and has also announced his Solo Tour HousePartyLove where he will be playing in Glasgow, Birmingham, London, Manchester and Belfast in October 2024. Femi Akinfolarin (Treason, UK Tour; Moulin Rouge! The Musical, West End) will appear as The Tin Man at all other dates (see notes to editors).
2023 saw The Vivienne make history as the first drag star to appear on a major UK reality competition series, competing in ‘Dancing On Ice’ on ITV. Viv made it through the Top 3, with breathtaking performances in the final. 2023 also saw The Vivienne become the face and voice of the BBC’s Eurovision Song Contest trailers. In addition, she performed ‘Waterloo‘ at the massive Eurovision opening ceremony in Liverpool city centre.
The Wizard of Oz on tour is presented Michael Harrison, Gavin Kalin Productions, David Mirvish, Crossroads Live, Nick Thomas, Rupert Gavin and Mallory Factor, Jake Hine and Playing Field, by arrangement with the Really Useful Group Ltd. Originally produced at Curve.
LONDON SUMMER SEASON – LISTINGS
Gillian Lynne Theatre
Thursday 15 August – Sunday 8 September 2024
166 Drury Ln, London WC2B 5PW
*PLEASE NOTE SPECIFIC CAST PERFORMANCE DATES
Aston Merrygold will appear as The Tin Man on all dates with the exception of: Tues 20,Sat 24, Tue 27 and Sat 31 August. Femi Akinfolarin will play all other dates.
THE WIZARD OF OZ
Music by Harold Arlen
Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg
Additional Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Additional Lyrics by Tim Rice
Adaption by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jeremy Sams
Orchestrations by David Cullen
Orchestrations adapted by George Dyer
From the book by L. Frank Baum
Based Upon the Classic Motion Picture owned by Warner Media, and produced with the permission of Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures and EMI Music Publishing
Director Nikolai Foster
Choreographer Shay Barclay
Set Designer Colin Richmond
Projection Designer Douglas O’Connell
Costume and Puppet Designer Rachael Canning
Lighting Designer Ben Cracknell
Sound Designer Adam Fisher
Creative Consultant Mark Kaufman
Musical Supervisor George Dyer
Casting by Debbie O’Brien
Props Supervisor Marcus Hall Props
Wigs, Hair and Makeup Designer Elizabeth Marini
Tickets
Social Media
Instagram: @yellowbrickroad
Twitter: @yellowbrickroad
Facebook: @WizardOfOzTheMusical
