Play Suggestions: Is there a Jr. or School Version of Wizard of Oz?

Is there a Jr. or School Version of Wizard of Oz?

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Play Suggestions
Forum Discription: Need help finding a show that's right for your theater? Ask here.
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5087
Printed Date: 5/28/25 at 3:41pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Is there a Jr. or School Version of Wizard of Oz?

Posted By: kytheatrechic
Subject: Is there a Jr. or School Version of Wizard of Oz?
Date Posted: 6/07/11 at 1:59pm

I've directed Wizard of Oz (RSC) for community theatre in the past and would love to do it in the coming school year with a performing arts group of kids (ages 8-11). Is there a jr or school version of this available? I did not see one on the Tams-Whitmark website, but I know that many elementary and middle schools perform this musical. Are they doing it without paying royalties?

Anyone have a lead for me? Thanks in advance!

-------------
All the world's a stage, some of us just have better seats.

Replies:

Posted By: DWolfman
Date Posted: 6/09/11 at 5:44pm

Two sites for you:

FindaPlay website: http://www.playscripts.com/findaplay/ - http://www.playscripts.com/findaplay/

Type "Wizard of Oz" in the search box and you will get a list of scripts available through several different publishers. Unfortunately you will have to search through the list to see which ones fit your needs.

Definite children's version: http://www.childrenstheatreplays.com/woz.htm - http://www.childrenstheatreplays.com/woz.htm

Am not familiar with the company or the script, but it seems to fit what you posted.

Hope this helps,

-DW-

-------------
Even a man who is pure of heart...

Posted By: VisionE
Date Posted: 6/13/11 at 7:18am

Spotlight Musicals has a version we have done. Toto had no lines but stole the show proving the saying, "Its not the part you get, its what you make of it."

http://www.spotlightmusicals.com/Wizard_of_OZ.html

-------------
http://www.ectheatre.org/
http://www.spotlightmusicals.com/

Posted By: peacock
Date Posted: 7/26/11 at 10:21am

WE did the RSC version two years ago. I am not aware of anyone who does the traditional MGM score in a shortened version. Are you looking to save money or have a shorter play. Because, the RSC version is not hard to do if you keep the sets really, really simple. There are dozens and dozens of other versions at every level, but you won't get the music. Still, your kids won't really know the music anyway. I was impressed with how few people really KNOW the Wizard of Oz, now that it is not an annual tv event.

I imagine many people do the show without royalties. I think, though, that there are going to be more and more cases against folks like that because it is pretty easy with internet advertising and youtube videos to become aware of bootleg productions.

Good luck finding the perfect version of OZ. We loved doing it.

Posted By: Melvin
Date Posted: 8/11/11 at 1:35pm

My high school in California put on Drama Club Must Die last year. It's about a high school drama club which is on the chopping block because of (guess what!) school funding problems. The school board gives them one chance to survive - put on their original version of Wizard of Oz - with original songs - in one week. Fun show and the cheapest royalties we've ever had.
http://www.lazybeescripts.co.uk/YouthTheatre/Drama_Club_Must_Die.htm

Posted By: jayzehr
Date Posted: 8/13/11 at 1:12pm

By the way,(just as an interesting side note) the earlier Frank Baum Oz books are in the public domain so one could do an original version of the story without paying rights.