Show guide
The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz brings the timeless tale of Dorothy's journey down the yellow brick road to the stage, built around Harold Arlen's beloved film songs.
- Premiered
- 1987
- Composer
- Harold Arlen
- Genre
- Jukebox
- Setting
- Timeless
The story of The Wizard of Oz
The story follows Dorothy, a Kansas farm girl swept away by a tornado into the magical land of Oz, where she teams up with a Scarecrow, a Tin Man, and a Cowardly Lion to seek help from the mysterious Wizard so she can find her way home. Along the way, the group faces the Wicked Witch of the West, who wants Dorothy's ruby slippers for herself.
Because the tale is essentially timeless, a fantastical world existing outside any specific historical decade, the stage version leans into pure imagination and spectacle. It is a story about courage, friendship, and the idea that everything Dorothy needs might have been within her reach all along.
The music and the makers
The score is built around songs by composer Harold Arlen with lyrics by E.Y. Harburg, originally written for the classic 1939 film and later adapted for the stage as a jukebox-style musical. Arlen's melodies are warm, tuneful, and instantly familiar to generations of audiences, spanning yearning ballads and jaunty ensemble numbers.
This songbook approach means the stage show trades on deep nostalgia, giving audiences the chance to hear cherished tunes performed live, often alongside new orchestrations and expanded staging that let the songs breathe in a theatrical setting.
The Wizard of Oz on stage
The best-known stage adaptation of the film, created by the Royal Shakespeare Company, premiered in London in 1987 and has since been staged constantly by theatres, tours, and school and community groups around the world. New York audiences have seen the songbook live in large-scale productions such as the Madison Square Garden stagings of the late 1990s, though the RSC adaptation itself has never had a Broadway run.
Its appeal rests on pure nostalgia and universal storytelling, a tale that resonates with children and adults alike. For audiences who grew up with the film, seeing Dorothy, Toto, and her companions travel the yellow brick road live on stage is part of the enduring pull of musical theatre.
Frequently asked
Has The Wizard of Oz played on Broadway?
The familiar RSC stage adaptation of the 1939 film premiered in London in 1987 and has toured widely, but it has not had a Broadway production. New York stagings, like the Madison Square Garden runs, played outside Broadway houses.
Who wrote the music for The Wizard of Oz?
Harold Arlen composed the songs, with lyrics by E.Y. Harburg, originally for the 1939 film.
What is The Wizard of Oz about?
It follows Dorothy's journey through the magical land of Oz with the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion as they seek the Wizard's help.
Can you name today's mystery Broadway show?
Play the Show Guesser