The Wizard of Oz, subtitled Live Australian Cast Recording is a cast recording of the 2001 Australian production of the stage musical The Wizard of Oz, featuring Nikki Webster. It was nominated for the 2002 ARIA Award for Best Cast or Show Album.
Background In 2001 an Australian musical theatre staging of The Wizard of Oz, an adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz toured the country. It was directed by Nancye Hayes with Peter Casey as musical director. It ran from November 2001 until December 2002 and featured Nikki Webster as Dorothy.
The Wizard of Oz was first staged at the Lyric Theatre in Sydney before moving to the Regent Theatre in Melbourne then onto the Lyric Theatre in South Brisbane.
Cast Nikki Webster - Dorothy Kane Alexander - Scarecrow (NSW) Derek Metzger - Scarecrow (Vic, Qld) Philip Gould - Tinman Doug Parkinson - Cowardly Lion Bert Newton - Wizard of Oz Delia Hannah - Glinda (NSW) Patti Newton - Glinda (Vic, Qld) Pamela Rabe - Wicked Witch Tony Geappen - Uncle Henry
Soundtrack The original cast recording was released in 2001 through BMG Australia.
Track list: Overture Over the Rainbow Cyclone Come Out Come Out It Really Was No Miracle We Thank You Very Sweetly Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead As Mayor of the Munchkin City As Coroner I Must Aver Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead (Reprise) Lullaby League Lollipop Guild We Welcome You to Munchkinland Follow the Yellow Brick Road - You're Off To See The Wizard If I Only Had a Brain We're Off To See The Wizard (Duo) If I Only Had a Heart We're Off To See The Wizard (Trio) Lions, Tigers And Bears If I Only Had the Nerve We're Off To See The Wizard (Quartet) Out Of The Woods Entr'acte Merry Old Land Of Oz If I Were King of the Forest Jitterbug Witchmelt Curtain Calls Over The Rainbow (Reprise)
Webster released "Over the Rainbow" as a single along with another song, "The Best Days". The double A side single peaked at #21 on the ARIA Singles Chart and was certified gold.
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