Character guide
Tin Man
from The Wizard of Oz
The Tin Man is the compassionate, heart-seeking companion Dorothy meets along her journey in The Wizard of Oz, the 1987 stage musical set to Harold Arlen's music.
- Show
- The Wizard of Oz
- Broadway premiere
- 1987
- Role
- Lead
- Music by
- Harold Arlen
Tin Man: from the film to Broadway
Broadway compared with the 1939 MGM film
The film's Tin Man nearly belonged to someone else. Buddy Ebsen took the role after swapping parts with Ray Bolger, but inhaling the aluminum dust in his makeup put him in the hospital, and Jack Haley replaced him. Ebsen's voice still survives in the film's group numbers.
The stage version, first produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1987, follows the screenplay closely but also restores The Jitterbug, a number Haley recorded with Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, and Bert Lahr before it was cut from the film for time.
Who is the Tin Man?
The Tin Man is found rusted and immobile in the woods, convinced that he lacks a heart and therefore cannot truly feel emotion. Once freed, he joins Dorothy and the Scarecrow on the road to see the Wizard, hoping to be granted the capacity for love and compassion he believes he is missing.
Ironically, his actions throughout the story, gentle, caring, and quick to worry about his friends, reveal a character who already possesses deep feeling, even before any wish is granted.
The Tin Man's role in The Wizard of Oz
The Tin Man is a lead role within the traveling group of friends, calling for a performer who can move with stylized, mechanical precision while still conveying warmth and vulnerability through voice and expression. The physical demands of the costume and movement style make this a distinctive acting challenge.
Singing ability is important as well, since the character has featured musical moments that require both control and emotional clarity.
Why the Tin Man resonates with audiences
Audiences are moved by the Tin Man's tender-hearted nature and his fear that he is incapable of love, a fear the story gently proves untrue. His journey speaks to anyone who has ever doubted their own capacity for feeling.
Tin Man: frequently asked questions
What show is the Tin Man from?
The Tin Man is a character in The Wizard of Oz, the 1987 stage musical.
Is the Tin Man a lead or supporting role?
The Tin Man is a lead role, one of Dorothy's core companions throughout the story.
Who wrote the music for The Wizard of Oz?
Harold Arlen composed the music for The Wizard of Oz.
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