Pop star Aston Merrygold will step into the role of The Tin Man when Leicester Curve’s hit new production of The Wizard of Oz follows its London Palladium summer season with a festive run at the Liverpool Empire.
The JLS singer, who previously played Willard in the touring production of Footloose, will appear alongside RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner The Vivienne as The Wicked Witch of the West in the production which will run from 13 December 2023 until 7 January 2024.
Commenting on their latest roles, Merrygold said: “Liverpool is such a special place to me and my family, it was only a year ago that I got married there! The Wizard of Oz is such an iconic story with such timeless characters and audiences of any age will delight in this new production full of laughter, excitement and a lot of colour. I can’t wait to return to the city for a fantastic festive season this Christmas as The Tin Man, it’s going to be incredible!’
The Vivienne added: “It is quite literally a dream come true to be asked to play The Wicked Witch of the West and to bring this amazing character to life this Christmas. The Wizard of Oz means everything to me, it’s the ultimate story of overcoming adversity.
“I first saw the movie aged five and I’ve probably seen it about 100 times since. I played The Tin Man at primary school and got to skate to ‘Over the Rainbow’ on Dancing on Ice so it’s fair to say I’ve had a life-long love affair with the story.
“Your favourite characters are all there, telling the story you know and love… but with so much more added to this new production. Prepare to be whisked into an amazing new world of colour. Performing in Liverpool is always a complete joy, and this will actually be my first-time stepping foot on the Empire stage after years of seeing productions there, so it’s a complete honour!
Presented by Michael Harrison, the producer of last year’s successful UK tour of the hit Palladium production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, the Made At Curve production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jeremy Sams’ adaptation of the classic story will follow its Christmas season in Liverpool by embarking on a major tour.
The production will visit New Theatre, Oxford; Mayflower Theatre, Southampton; New Theatre, Hull; Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield; Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury; Playhouse Theatre, Edinburgh; Cliffs Pavilion, Southend; Theatre Royal, Norwich; Venue Cymru, Llandudno; Alhambra Theatre, Bradford; Theatre Royal, Plymouth; Bristol Hippodrome; Theatre Royal, Nottingham; Theatre Royal, Newcastle; Palace Theatre, Manchester; New Victoria Theatre, Woking; Grand Opera House, Belfast; Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin; Hippodrome Theatre, Birmingham; King’s Theatre, Glasgow; His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen; Milton Keynes Theatre; Wales Millenium Centre, Cardiff; and Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton; before concluding its run at the Sunderland Empire next August.
Directed by Curve’s artistic director Nikolai Foster, the production is choreographed by Shay Barclay with set design by Colin Richmond, projection design by Douglas O’Connell, costume and puppet design by Rachael Canning, lighting design by Ben Cracknell and sound design by Adam Fisher. The team also includes creative consultant Mark Kaufman, musical director and musical supervisor George Dyer, magic consultant Scott Penrose, casting director Kay Magson, props supervisor Marcus Hall Props, costume supervisor Anna Josephs and wigs, hair and makeup designer Elizabeth Marini.
Featuring music by Harold Arlen, lyrics by EY Harburg, additional music by Lloyd Webber and additional lyrics by Tim Rice, the hit version of L Frank Baum’s classic story of Dorothy’s magical adventure was adapted by Lloyd Webber and Sams.
Based on the enduringly popular 1939 MGM film, The Wizard of Oz features the iconic songs from the movie including ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ and ‘Follow the Yellow Brick Road’ along with new music and songs by Lloyd Webber and Rice.
Reviving their successful West End musical writing partnership for the first time in three decades, Lloyd Webber and Rice’s The Wizard of Oz premiered at the Palladium in 2011 following a high-profile TV talent search for an unknown actress to play Dorothy. Danielle Hope won the battle to wear the ruby slippers opposite Michael Crawford as The Wizard for the show’s opening run with fellow finalist Sophie Evans stepping in in 2012. Russell Grant and Des O’Connor also took on the role of The Wizard during 2012. Curve’s production was the regional premiere production of the new adaptation of the classic story.
Angela Thomas
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