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One of many promotional posters for the show, this one showing the Dance of All Nations Scene.

The Wizard of Oz was a musical stage production loosely based on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It opened at the Grand Opera House in Chicago on 16 June 1902, and moved to Broadway early in 1903. It toured cities across the nation in full version until 1909 with shorter abridged versions or just music performances by different groups until about 1918. There were a few reprisals in the 1940s plus modern recreations in the 2000s.

The script of this production was digitized by the New York Public Library and can be read here with a transcript that has footnotes available on the Wiki.

It was described as one of the most successful American stage extravaganzas of the early 20th century, as it had about it the magic and wonder of a child's world fantasy. In its original run, it is believed to have went on for 293 performances.

It was produced by Fred R. Hamlin and directed by Julian Mitchell, with book and lyrics by L. Frank Baum, music by Paul Tietjens, and with scenery, costumes, and special effects designed by W. W. Denslow. Or that, at least, was the original plan: Mitchell replaced all but eight of the Baum/Tietjens songs with twenty songs written by others. Additional costumes for the show were designed by Caroline Siedle.

Production[]

After fourteen weeks in Chicago, the show toured the West and Canada, then moved to New York. It ran at the Majestic Theater on Broadway for 293 stage nights from January to October 1903. It returned to Broadway in 1904, where it played from March to May and again from November to December. It successfully toured the United States with much of the same cast, as was done in those days, until 1911, and then became available for amateur use.

The stage version starred David C. Montgomery and Fred Stone as the Tin Woodman and Scarecrow respectively, which shot the pair to instant fame. The stage version differed quite a bit from the book, and was aimed primarily at adults. Toto was replaced with Imogene the Cow while a waitress named Tyxie Tryfle and Pastoria who was working as a streetcar operator were added as fellow cyclone victims. The Wicked Witch of the West was eliminated entirely in the script, over which Baum had little control or influence. Jokes in the script were mostly written by Glen MacDonough and made timely references to President Theodore Roosevelt, Senator Mark Hanna, and oil magnate John D. Rockefeller.

In the play, the characters escape the poppy field when a snowfall suppresses its soporific odors which was reproduced in the 1939 film.

This stage version was the first to use the shortened title "The Wizard of Oz". Most subsequent versions of the story, including newer editions of the novel, have been titled "The Wizard of Oz", rather than using the full, original title.

The three partners, Baum, Tietjens, and Denslow, quarreled over the division of the royalties even before the show premiered. The original arrangement called for an equal three-way split; Baum and Tietjens thought Denslow was overpaid for his limited contributions, while Denslow thought he deserved half. The dispute led to the end of Denslow's partnership with Baum.

The success of The Wizard of Oz inspired a range of imitations, one of which, Victor Herbert's Babes in Toyland (1903), proved vastly superior to its inspiration and became a recognized classic.

Act One: The Storm[]

The show opens on a Kansas farm from which Dorothy and her pet calf Imogene are blown to the Land of Oz by a tornado. Dorothy's farmhouse lands on a Wicked Witch, and the Munchkins proclaim Dorothy their heroine for setting them free. Dorothy wants to go home to Kansas. The Good Witch of the North gives Dorothy a Ruby Ring and tells her to go to the Emerald City to ask the Wizard of Oz to send her back to Kansas. Dorothy also gets a love interest when Sir Dashemoff Daily, the poet laureate of Oz, falls in love with her. Now, it so happens that a Kansas streetcar conductor named Pastoria, along with Tryxie Tryfle, his waitress-girlfriend, has been blown to Oz in the same tornado. To make matters more complicated, it turns out that Pastoria is the former King of Oz, having been ousted by the Wizard. Pastoria determines to regain his throne. Another new character is an Ophelia-like lady lunatic named Cynthia Cynch. She has gone "mad" searching for her long-lost lover, Niccolo Chopper. Dorothy and her pet calf proceed on their journey and meet the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman (who happens to be Cynthia Cynch's lover turned tin). Dorothy with her friends and Pastoria with his entourage all stumble into a deadly Poppy Field where they nearly perish from the poisonous breath of the flowers. Everyone is saved by the Witch of the North, who creates a summer snowstorm to break the spell of the poppies.

Act Two: The Emerald City[]

Dorothy and her friends arrive in the Emerald City where the Wizard grants brains to the Scarecrow and a heart to the Tin Woodman. To celebrate, the Wizard announces a "Ball of All Nations" in which everybody gets to sing a topical song of ethnic origin. Pastoria arrives in the Emerald City, breaks up with Tryxie Tryfle, and stages a coup in which the Wizard of Oz is arrested. Dorothy and her pals are declared enemies of the state and they run for their lives as Pastoria regains the throne of Oz.

Act Three: The Borderland[]

In hiding and in disguise, Dorothy and company flee the Emerald City. They encounter Cynthia Cynch who is delighted to have found her missing tin lover. But alas, Dorothy, the Scarecrow, and Tin Woodman are eventually captured by Pastoria's henchmen and sentenced to death. Just as they are about to be executed, Dorothy calls on the Witch of the North, who magically appears and sets everyone free.

-Synopsis by David Maxine

Gallery[]

Original Casts[]

1902 Chicago cast[]

  • Dorothy Gale - Anna Laughlin
  • Imogene - Edwin J. Stone
  • Cynthia Cynch - Helen Byron
  • Locasta - Aileen May
  • Sir Dashemoff Daily - Bessie Wynn
  • Pastoria - Neil McNeil
  • Tryxie Tryfle - Mabel Barrison
  • Brigadier General Riskitt - Harold Morey
  • The Scarecrow - Fred Stone
  • The Lion - Arthur Hill
  • The Tin Man (Niccolo Chopper) - David C. Montgomery
  • Guardian of the Gate - Harold Morey
  • The Soldier with the Green Whiskers - Joseph Schrode
  • Sir Wiley Gyle - Stephen Maley
  • The Wizard of Oz - John Slavin

Broadway 1903 Cast[]

  • Dorothy Gale - Anna Laughlin
  • Imogene - Edwin J. Stone, Later Joseph Schrode
  • Cynthia Cynch - Helen Byron, Later Jeannette Lowrie, Than Later Allene Crater
  • Locasta - Edith Hutchins
  • Sir Dashemoff Daily - Bessie Wynn, Later Edith Yerrington, Than Later Gertrude MacKenzie
  • Pastoria - Gilbert Clayton, Later Owen Westford
  • Tryxie Tryfle - Grace Kimball, Later Lotta Faust
  • Brigadier General Riskitt - Harold Morey
  • The Scarecrow - Fred Stone
  • The Lion - Arthur Hill
  • The Tin Man (Niccolo Chopper) - David C. Montgomery
  • Bardo - Genevra Gibson
  • Sir Wiley Gyle - Stephen Maley
  • The Wizard of Oz - Bobby Gaylor, Later James Wesley'

1903-1904 Touring Company 1A[]

  • Dorothy Gale - Anna Laughlin
  • Imogene - Joseph Schrode
  • Cynthia Cynch - Allene Crater
  • Locasta - Edith Hutchins
  • Sir Dashemoff Daily - Gertrude MacKenzie
  • Pastoria - Owen Westford
  • Tryxie Tryfle - Lotta Faust
  • Brigadier General Riskitt - ?
  • The Scarecrow - Fred Stone
  • The Lion - Arthur Hill
  • The Tin Man (Niccolo Chopper) - David C. Montgomery
  • Bardo - ?
  • Sir Wiley Gyle - Stephen Maley
  • The Wizard of Oz - James Wesley

1903-1904 Touring Company 2B[]

  • Dorothy Gale - Isabelle D'Armond
  • Imogene - L. J. Wyckoff
  • Cynthia Cynch - May Taylor
  • Locasta - ?
  • Sir Dashemoff Daily - Mildred Eiaine
  • Pastoria - Arthur Larkin
  • Tryxie Tryfle - Madge Ryan, Later Carolyn Huestice
  • Brigadier General Riskitt - ?
  • The Scarecrow - Bert Swor
  • The Lion - C. Ray Wallace
  • The Tin Man (Niccolo Chopper) - John Swor
  • Bardo - ?
  • Sir Wiley Gyle - ?
  • The Wizard of Oz - Daniel Barrett, Later William Barry

Broadway / Chicago, Spring/Summer 1904[]

  • Dorothy Gale - Anna Laughlin
  • Imogene - L. J. Wyckoff
  • Cynthia Cynch - Joseph Schrode
  • Locasta - Albertine Benson
  • Sir Dashemoff Daily - May De Sousa
  • Pastoria - ?
  • Tryxie Tryfle - Lotta Faust
  • Brigadier General Riskitt - ?
  • The Scarecrow - Fred Stone
  • The Lion - Arthur Hill
  • The Tin Man (Niccolo Chopper) - David C. Montgomery
  • Bardo - ?
  • Sir Wiley Gyle - Stephen Maley
  • The Wizard of Oz - Charles Swain

Music[]

Btr cd lg

Beyond the Rainbow

Some of the music was known even beyond the United States. During the Baums' 1907 stay at the Shepherd's Hotel in Cairo, Egypt, a Hungarian G*psy Band was able to play some of the songs.

by Paul Tietjens
  • Prelude
  • Life in Kansas
  • Cyclone
  • Transformation
  • Maypole Dance
  • Death of the Wicked Witch
  • Locasta's Entrance
  • Invocation & Death of the Poppies
  • Transformation
  • Winter Jubilation
  • Hayfoot, Strawfoot
  • Phantom Patrol
  • Waltz & Grand March
  • Lanciers
  • Schottische
by L. Frank Baum and Paul Tietjens
by Baum and Nathaniel D. Mann
by A. Baldwin Sloane and Glen MacDonough
  • In Michigan (Pastoria)
  • The Man Who Stays in Town (Pastoria and Tryxie Tryfle) (unconfirmed, uncredited attribution)
  • Star of My Native Land (Pastoria)
by Edgar Smith and A. Baldwin Sloane
  • Connemara Christening (Wizrad)
  • Wee Highland Mon (Nick)
  • Spanish Bolero (Scarecrow)
by James O'Dea and Edward Hutchinson
  • Sammy (Tryxie)
  • As Long as There's Love in the World (Sir Dashemoff)
by Will D. Cobb and Gus Edwards
by James O'Dea and Robert J. Adams
by Vincent Bryan and J.B. Mullen
by Vincent Bryan and Charles Zimmerman
  • Marching Thro' Georgia (Scarecrow and Nick)
  • Sitting Bull (Scarecrow) [added 1904]
  • Football (Scarecrow and Nick)
  • Marching Through Port Arthur (Scarecrow and Nick)
by Vincent Bryan and Leo Edwards
Others

Show Tour[]

The show toured from 1903 to 1909. It ran on Broadway from January to October 1903, and again from March 1904 to October 1905. It was released for stock and regional shows in 1911 which were allowed to use songs from the musical.

Post-World War II revivals[]

In 1945 Milwaukee Civic Light Opera Company produced the Witmark rental version which includes Harburg/Arlen songs from the 1939 MGM movie

In 1946, the Witmark rental version was produced by Milwaukee Civic Light Opera Company & John McCormick's company (in England) which incorporates elements and songs of the 1939 MGM movie version.

In 1949 the Denis DuFor for the Louisville Park Theatrical Association produced the Muny version of Oz and included songs from the 1902 musical.

in 1952, at the State Fair Auditorium in Texas, a version was produced with music by Tietjens, Sloane, Arlen, Harburg, and Gabrielson.

Loretto Academy produced the show in 1952 with songs from the MGM movie.

The musical was performed in a concert version in New York City's Alma Gluck Recital Hall in May 1982 by the New Amsterdam Theatre Company.

It was revived in Tarpon Springs, Florida by the New Century Opera Company in 1998, 2006, and 2007. The version was adapted by Constantine Grame who is now the Executive & Artistic Director at New Century Opera Company.

The Canton Comic Opera Company, a community theatre company in Canton, Ohio, performed a "restored" version in 2010. It was done with a 28-piece orchestra and a cast of 50. It was adapted, directed, and conducted by Joseph N. Rubin.

In 2016 a Swedish production was produced called "Trollkarlen av Oz" and adapted and directed by Dick Lundberg, who also played the Scarecrow and Sir Wiley Gyle.

In 2023 Offsite Connecticut Theatre did the show. T. Craft adapted and Directed the show, she also starred as Dorothy, Trixie, and some chorus roles. A recording of the show can be found on YouTube.

Trivia[]

Background:

  • The forthcoming book by David Maxine entitled The Wizard of Oz on Broadway is based on his extensive research that has been posted to his blogspot website since 2019.
  • The history of this production is discussed in the first five chapters of Oz Before the Rainbow by Mark Evan Swartz.
  • L. Frank Baum originally wanted to create a drama version with no comedic events that closely followed the book with a few notable changes. He composed a draft script in 1901 that is only known to be in the collection of the Syracuse Library after being intended as part of a scrapped appendix for the 1961 biography To Please a Child. Instead of being sent to go after the Wicked Witch of the West, Dorothy and friends would have exposed the Wizard as a humbug right after meeting him. After receiving a real heart taken from someone who died by suicide because of love, the Tin Man would express love to Dorothy but she rejects his affection causing him to possess love for a Forest Witch who would then sing about being too wicked for love. Also Dorothy would have used her silver shoes to summon the flying monkeys in order to arrive at Glinda’s palace. It is there that Tin Man finds out his lost love is Glinda’s Captain of the Guard who will be crowned Queen of the Munchkins.
  • In 1914 it was announced that David Montgomery was set to marry Anna Fitzhugh who played the Munchkin Tommie Top. It is unclear why they broke of their engagement but he passed away three years after.

Significance on later media:

  • Dorothy's last name Gale given which Baum used in later books.
  • The Good Witch of the North is given the name Locasta. Ruth Plumly Thompson would later name her Tattypoo in The Giant Horse of Oz.
  • The Tin Woodman is given the name Niccolo Chopper. In The Marvelous Land of Oz, he is called Nick Chopper, and becomes Nicholas Chopper in The Tin Woodman of Oz.
  • First appearance of King Pastoria, who would be mentioned in The Marvelous Land of Oz, and made an actual character in Thompson's The Lost King of Oz.
  • The 1925 film adaptation of the story seems to crib some ideas from the play. Dorothy is a young woman with many romantic suitors, a number of new characters are included for the purpose of having slapstick routines, the Wizard is exposed as a humbug fairly early, and the Wicked Witch of the West is left out in favor of a power struggle between male politicians in the Emerald City.
  • Instead of being saved by Field Mice in the poppy field, it is the Snow Queen who saves the characters from slumber after being called by Locasta. This also happens in the 1939 film, with Glinda being the one to save them.
  • Cynthia Cynch (Beatrice Fairfax in early test scripts) was a prototype for Nimmie Amee.
  • The name for the cow Imogene was used for the minor character Imogene Gubb in Queen Zixi of Ix but would return as a talking cow in The Giant Garden of Oz by Eric Shanower.

Differences from the Book:

  • The Silver Shoes are replaced by a ring.
  • The Cowardly Lion is reduced to a small part and doesn't speak but communicates via noise along with head nods. He is called Bruno by Pastoria who in one scene takes photos of him with a camera and uses him as part of his disguise as a lion tamer. He therefore doesn't ask for courage from the Wizard.
  • Dorothy goes back home via another cyclone as Locasta invokes the mighty "Galinda" as in Glinda who is called the Ruler of Storm to summon one.
  • The people of the Emerald City know the Wizard is a man and characters simply walk up to him. No green spectacles are needed either. He is last seen wearing a prison outfit but it is implied he is released at the end, but he makes no balloon escape.
  • New characters to the story such as King Pastoria II and his girlfriend, Trixie Tryfle, Cynthia Cynch, Sir Dashemoff Daily, the poet laureate; Sir Wiley Gyle, and General Riskitt.
  • Pastoria overthrows and captures the Wizard, taking control of Oz instead of the Scarecrow. In the later book The Lost King of Oz, he has no interest in returning to the throne.
  • Somehow there are French, Russian, Germain, Swedish, and Italian people living in Oz despite Locasta knowing nothing about Earth besides various other characters who seem to be rather familiar with it as suggested below:

Cultural References

  • The Scarecrow makes a political joke as since he is stuffed with hay, he thinks might be related to "Secretary Hay". This is a reference to then U.S. Secretary of State John Hay but he shouldn't know of him anyway being in Oz. Similarly, Tin Man makes a mention of then Senator Mark Hanna while Trixie mentions reading President Roosevelt's book.
  • The Wizard survives two assassination attempts after first being shot in the chest off stage before being shot at by Cynthia with him somehow catching the bullet in his mouth as he throws it onto the ground. The play came one year after the assassination of President William McKinley.
  • Cynthia notes that she lived in a “Queen Ann style” boarding house.
  • The Wizard suggests the Scarecrow's brain should be similar to businesspeople Russell Sage and Hetty Green.
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