Tag Archives: The Wizard of Oz

Broadway Birthday: Paul Keating

Posted on March 11, 2021 by boz

Happy Birthday to two-time Olivier nominee Paul Keating, born Mar. 11, 1976, in London. He began acting at age 12, when he was cast as Gavroche in the West End production of Les Misérables. The following year, he made his … Continue reading →

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Today in Musical History: The original Wizard of Oz

Posted on January 21, 2021 by boz

The first musical adaptation of The Wizard of Oz opened Jan. 21, 1903, on Broadway. Novelist L. Frank Baum had asked his friend Paul Tietjens (a composer) to help him bring his book to the stage. They completed the script … Continue reading →

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Broadway Birthday: Imelda Staunton

Posted on January 9, 2021 by boz

Happy Birthday to four-time Olivier-winning performer Imelda Staunton, born Jan. 9, 1956, in Archway, London. She’s been nominated for 13 Olivier Awards in all so far, including a record-breaking seven for Best Actress in a Musical. She first studied drama … Continue reading →

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History of Musicals: Hollywood Beckons

Posted on June 18, 2020 by boz

Short sound films were a popular novelty in nickelodeons at the turn of the 20th century. One of the most successful systems was Cameraphone, created in 1907 by James A. Whitman. In the fourth floor studios above Daly’s Theatre, not … Continue reading →

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Essential Film Musicals: The Wizard of Oz

Posted on May 22, 2020 by boz

After Disney’s Snow White showed that children’s stories could be profitable, MGM bought the rights to L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, about the adventures of Kansas farm girl Dorothy and her dog Toto in the … Continue reading →

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