Palladium’s The Wizard of Oz finds its Dorothy – Georgina Onuorah

Georgina Onuorah will return to the central role of Dorothy when Leicester Curve’s hit new production of The Wizard of Oz arrives at the London Palladium this summer.

Part of the original cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, Onuorah who made her stage debut in Dick Whittington at the National Theatre, is currently playing Ado Annie in the multi-award-winning production of Oklahoma! at the Wyndham’s Theatre. The rising star first stepped into the famous ruby slippers when the production made its critic and crowd-pleasing debut in Leicester last year.

Onuorah joins the previously announced principal cast of comedian and musical theatre star Jason Manford (The Producers, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, UK tours) as the Cowardly Lion, Dianne Pilkington (Wicked, Apollo Victoria, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, national tour) as the Wicked Witch of the West, Louis Gaunt (Jack and the Beanstalk, London Palladium, Mary Poppins, Prince Edward Theatre) as Scarecrow, Palladium panto favourite Gary Wilmot (Wicked, Apollo Victoria Theatre, The Wind in the Willows, London Palladium as The Wizard), alongside Diversity’s driving force Ashley Banjo who will make his West End musical debut in the role of the Tin Man. Christine Bianco (Forbidden Broadway, Vaudeville Theatre, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, UK tour) will return as Glinda The Good Witch after also starring in the production at Curve.

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 fly into the Palladium from 23 June until 3 September before embarking on a UK tour. The press night will be on 6 July.

Commenting on the latest addition to the Palladium cast, Harrison said: “It’s thrilling to announce today that Georgina will play Dorothy in our new production of The Wizard of Oz. She is a rare talent with great warmth. When she first played the role in Leicester last year, her soaring rendition of ‘Over the Rainbow’ brought the whole house to their feet. She completes our casting, and along with Jason, Ashley, Dianne, Louis and Christina, is going to ensure it will be a summer to remember at the Palladium.”

The full cast is completed by Ben Thompson (as Toto), Annie Southall, Charlotte St.Croix, Claire O’Leary, Eamonn Cox, Emily Ann Potter, Geoff Aymer, Harrison Wilde, Jacqui Dubois, Jessica Daley, Jonathan Dryden Taylor, Lauren Stroud, Marley Fenton, Michael Lin and Sam Stones.

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 Tim 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