Wizard of Oz Toto
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup
Forum Discription: For how-to's and where-can-I-find
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3283
Printed Date: 5/13/24 at 11:35pm
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Topic: Wizard of Oz Toto
Posted By: robin1365
Subject: Wizard of Oz Toto
Date Posted: 7/09/08 at 12:33am
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Are there any ideas of what to do for Toto in the Wizard of Oz? We opted not to use a live dog but I think we may regret it. We ordered the Toto in a Basket that you find online in the costume shops, but I'm disappointed in the size of it - it's very small and actually kind of looks like a cat. I'm thinking about a puppet of some sort, but haven't been able to find anything that I like yet.
Advice?? Thanks!
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Replies:
Posted By: avgsuperheroine
Date Posted: 7/11/08 at 12:54am
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I was a dog handler for a show in VT, and my own dog was toto at our theatre about five years ago. Both times, we opted to use a real dog for a few scenes, and no dog (or a prop dog) in other scenes. If Dorothy carries a basket, most will assume the dog is in the basket in any scene where the dog is not mentioned or supposed to be seen.
If you do use a dog, use a terrier (carin is what the original toto was, but another terrier or performance-happy dog would be ok). Some dogs look like toto but don't take as well to performing or doing tricks. I taught my own (non-terrier) dog how to run to Dorothy and how to sit on a barrel while she sang in just a few weeks.
For a fake dog, I suggest shopping around at toy shops for one you like. I bought one and then painted it, clipped its hair and so on to make it look more like Toto.
I hope some other folks have some ideas for you too, good luck! ------------- http://www.dramaticallycorrect.com - Dramatically Correct Cast Gifts http://www.freewebs.com/costumeorganize - Costume Shop Organization Tips |
Posted By: Nyria
Date Posted: 1/11/09 at 8:22pm
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I know this is an old thread but people might still be looking at it in the future =)
When we Annie (I know - different show - smaller dog patr) I contacted the local SPCA and asked to 'borrow' a dog. I wanted to give them some exposure.
They ended up bringing a dog that they use in schools etc. And it was awesome. He wasn't well trained in his part (one night he walked off stage into the closed curtains when he was supposed to be coming to Annie) but this made it all the more fun.
Just a thought for a way to go =) ------------- NYRIA |
Posted By: mary051756
Date Posted: 1/23/09 at 8:05am
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We dressed up one of our little kids as Toto, and she was a big hit! Especially trying to run after them as they travel down the YBR! Once the audience got use to it, after the first few minutes, it wasn't distracting from the show at all, but it did take that first few minutes for the novelty to wear off! ------------- “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” EMERSON |
Posted By: KEB54
Date Posted: 1/23/09 at 10:18am
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I wasn't involved with the production, but a theatre I work with a lot used a kid in a dog costume. I just cringe at it ....... but, I have to say it was a hit with the audience. I never heard one negative comment and lots of "she was sooooo cute" type comments. I think I was the only one that didn't like it ... at least no one said so if they didn't. In fact, I was careful who I told that I didn't care for it. Don't want to be the Grinch. ------------- KEB |
Posted By: Kathy S
Date Posted: 1/23/09 at 12:58pm
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My daughter was in a production of this show in high school and they used somebody's darling little Yorkie. It was very stressful on the dog, and they were using hot dogs as rewards. The dog became very nippy and poor Dorothy got her fingers nipped a few times. I think it must have been hardest on the dog, though. |
Posted By: MartyW
Date Posted: 1/23/09 at 3:02pm
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We did Oz at our school a couple years back. I had two sisters in the show (both munchkin age) and thier grandmother had a yorkie that we used as toto. Grandma came to all the rehearsals. The dog did a great job following on the leash. When the dog was suppose to run to dorothy from ms gultch, she looked off stage and called for toto as a stage hand gave the little guy a shove through the curtain. As for times when he was "in the way" like in the munchkin land dance numbers we would hand him off to the littlest sister and she would fuss over him. When there were no convient munchkins around we used the basket to hold him place. The lease was attached to the basket. Though the dog was only a couple pounds he started pulling the basket around. So we weighted it with a half brick. that worked for a couple of rehearsals then he started pulling it. Finally there was enough weight to hold him fast but poor dorothy about died carrying it all around.. (ps Oz in July, hope I find another good dog) ------------- Marty W "Till next we trod the boards.." |
Posted By: greenphoenix
Date Posted: 1/23/09 at 3:48pm
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I would totally go with a puppet (Folkmanis has great-looking animal puppets in various sizes- check the website). Plus, puppetry is a fun theatrical element for a fantasy show like The Wizard of Oz.  Unless you have a professionally trained "stage dog", there are too many factors out of your control when working with an animal. |
Posted By: robin1365
Date Posted: 1/23/09 at 11:43pm
| I started this thread - and I'm glad that it's still generating some response! This was one of the most challenging aspects of this show for me as a director, but we finally ended up going with the puppet as well. I spent a long time online searching for the perfect Toto and finally found a cute puppet that actually looked realistic. (Unfotunately I can't remember the website.) We went for the comedic effect with it - and had Dorothy hold it, move it around, etc. During the scenes when Toto had to bark or come in from off stage, we had an offstage cast member do the "Toto Bark" (which was different every show!) and she took it upon herself to poke Toto out from behind the curtain and move around, etc. - all of which the audience seemed to enjoy. It was a little silly - but it was definitely the most practical for us. The last thing I wanted to do was to stress out our Dorothy since she really has to carry the show from the opening line to the last line. Keep the ideas coming though - I love reading them! |
Posted By: MartyW
Date Posted: 1/26/09 at 1:49pm
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Ahhh Yes, Never work with Dogs or Children... Don't get me wrong I love children - Fried.... etc.. etc.. But back to OZ. I have heard and seen many variations of toto. including the kid and the puppet. I just think if you can work around it, the real dog gives so much more to a show (even when accidents happen) I mean, what do you do for Sandy in Annie? Or Mr. Chairman in "Cheaper...." I figure its just like when you don't get the "perfect" actor for a part, you still cast it and you do the best you can... With OZ and shows like it, I don't know if I would dare do anything else. So many people come to that show for the love of the movie... I think you need to try as hard as possible to give them what they came to expect..
As always, just M.H.O.
Keep the OZ stuff coming.. got to do it again in June! ------------- Marty W "Till next we trod the boards.." |
Posted By: Chiment
Date Posted: 3/14/10 at 11:02pm
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Anyone still reading this thread? We're a middle/high school doing RSC and here's what we're doing: We have a puppet for anytime we are in Kansas, operated by Dorothy. We even had a little fun with it, Dorothy calling for Toto (who is sitting there as a stuffed animal and doesn't move) and going to get him, etc. Once we were in Oz we dressed up a kid. I know a lot of people tend to put a cute little kid in the costume. We went a different direction. Toto is actually a difficult part to play well because he must interact with all the characters, has specific blocking but no lines, and must be interesting but not distracting. Many beginning actors forget they have to act even when they aren't speaking. We opted to cast a senior boy (18yrs old) in the role instead. He has a great sense of the comic, responds to the lines being said, and has enough stage sense not to upstage the scene or the other actors. It's fun because he is almost twice the size of Dorothy regularly, so he makes for a big dog. It also makes the "now I know we aren't in Kansas" line a lot of fun as she reacts to the change in her dog. :) This is just one more way to do it. (I'm allergic to dogs. Sigh.) ------------- Angela Chiment Drama/Math Teacher "You don't have to be crazy to work here, but it helps." |
Posted By: JoyExcellence
Date Posted: 4/06/10 at 10:28am
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We used a real Toto and it was absolutely the right decision for us. We went through 2 dogs... and the second was a gem. The owner was actually Dorothy, so it worked out perfectly. It was an 8 year old Yorkie who we kept on a leash. We never put him in the basket... but he stayed on a leash (black at first, changing to red patton leather after the tornado). During big dance numbers like Jitterbug or MErry Old Land of Oz, we had a little Ozian come get Toto and take him offstage. We did have a basket on Ms. Gulth's bike that he fit into... but other than that, we used lots of treats and gave him lots of praise.
It was one of the hightlights of the show.... and I can't imagine it any other way!
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Posted By: John Luzaich
Date Posted: 4/06/10 at 12:12pm
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There's a company that rents trained Toto's, go that route and you'll sell out (after your advance marketing). They bring two dogs and a trainer. ------------- John cfct@cfu.net http://www.osterregent.org http://www.facebook.com/osterregent |