The Story | Cast & Production Team | Songs & Scenes | On stage photos 1 | On stage photos 2 | Backstage photos | Programme photos
On a small Kansas farm, Em is out looking for her niece, who has not returned home from school. Henry is concerned that there will be a twister and begins to prepare the farm. Dorothy arrives home with a bunch of flowers for her uncle. She has been daydreaming. Her aunt leaves the flowers in the house as Dorothy starts dreaming again of a faraway world beyond the rainbow where happiness can be found. Then the storm hits. While the family runs to the shelter, Dorothy returns to find the flowers she picked for her uncle.
The twister has transported the tiny farmhouse. The inhabitants of this land, the munchkins, creep forward to see what has happened, glad to see the dead witch under the house but scared of who might be inside. Dorothy comes outside, frightening the munchkins into hiding. Glinda, the good witch, calls on the munchkins to see Dorothy and there is a great celebration at the death of a wicked witch. This is ended when the Wicked Witch of the West comes to avenge her sister's death. Dorothy is protected both by a pair of ruby slippers, taken from the dead witch, and by Glinda's magic. Dorothy is sent to see the Great Wizard of Oz in the Emerald City so that she can be sent home. She is warned to avoid the jitterbugs, strange creatures which make you dance until you die.
Following the yellow brick road, she loses her way but meets a scarecrow, who accompanies her as he needs a brain. They enter a forest and trick some trees into giving them apples. A tinman is there. After they oil his rusting joints, he also asks to go with them as he needs a heart. The forest grows darker and the trio soon become frightened. A ferocious-looking lion bounds into their path, roaring. The lion challenges them with his two paws and much bravado. Dorothy steps in to defend her friends and slaps the beast on the nose, causing him to sob and admit his cowardice. Dorothy invites him to join the group to see the Wizard and be given some courage.
The Witch now moves to take her revenge and calls on the jitterbugs to stop the group. Caught in a desperate situation, Dorothy calls the Sorceress who freezes the jitterbugs with snow and clears the way to the Emerald City.
The Ozian army is on parade. It has eleven generals but only one private. The army is chased away as two ladies armed with handbags beat the lion around the city. Dorothy asks to see the Wizard but first talks with Lord Growlie, the Wizard's servant, and the ladies of Oz. At last, terrified, they meet the Wizard. A mysterious spirit appears and a strange voice announces it is the Wizard. Trembling, Dorothy tiptoes up to makes her request and the others fearfully do the same. The Wizard promises that he will grant all their requests - but with one condition. They are told to kill the Wicked Witch of the West.
The Witch is at tea with two guests. When they leave, the Witch returns to business. She turns to her magic window to find Dorothy, whom she transports to the castle. When the others arrive, they are imprisoned by ghosts and Dorothy is told she is to be shrunk in the Witch's potion. Disguised as ghosts, the three friends rescue Dorothy and shrink the Witch in her own mixture. They are unexpectedly praised by the ghosts who are glad to be free from the witch.
The four friends return to Oz for long celebrations. They finally see the Wizard once more but are told they must go away and come back later. Dorothy complains to the Wizard and the lion bravely faces up to him despite his fear. The spirit vanishes and a small man is revealed. He is forced to tell the story of his origins. A circus man in Omaha, he explains how he became the Great Oz. He presents each of the three friends with a symbol of their granted wish. As a token of the recognition of the qualities they sought, they are rewarded with outward symbols: a diploma, a medal, and a heart clock. Dorothy's has doubts that her wish will be fulfilled. The Wizard promises to take her back to Kansas by balloon.
The Emerald City fills with people for the Wizard's final speech. He confers his authority upon the scarecrow to act as ruler, assisted by tinman and the lion. Due to emotional goodbyes, Dorothy misses the balloon, which has escaped the Wizard's control. Asked to stay, Dorothy reveals how homesick she is for Kansas.
Glinda makes one final appearance. She tells Dorothy that she has always had the power to go home. Dorothy realizes that everything she could ever have wanted was right in her own backyard. Glinda now reveals the meaning of slippers. They will carry her back. When Dorothy is ready, Glinda instructs her on how to return home. Dorothy makes her wish and opens her eyes to see her aunt, uncle and her friends from Kansas.