The Wizard of Oz National Tour to Launch in Las Vegas; Danielle Wade Set to Star

The yellow brick road will stretch across the U.S. in the first national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new stage adaptation of The Wizard of Oz. The U.S. tour will launch at Las Vegas’ Smith Center on September 10 and will make stops in 17 cities including Seattle, Fort Lauderdale and Tempe. Danielle Wade, who is currently playing Dorothy in the production at Toronto’s Ed Mirvish Theatre, is confirmed to star.

Developed from the classic MGM film’s screenplay, this new production of The Wizard of Oz contains all the beloved Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg songs from the Oscar-winning movie score, in addition to new songs by Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.

Wade is the winner of CBC TV’s reality show competition Over the Rainbow, chosen by Canadian viewers to play the iconic role of the red-slipper-wearing Dorothy. Full casting for the show has yet to be announced.

This new production of The Wizard of Oz, which originated in London’s West End in 2011, features a revised book by Lloyd Webber and Jeremy Sams. The national tour will feature the same creative team from the West End and Toronto productions, which includes direction by Sams, set and costume design by Robert Jones, choreography by Arlene Phillips, lighting design by Hugh Vanstone, sound design by Mick Potter and video/projection design by Jon Driscoll.

Check out the video below to see Wade being announced as the winner of Over the Rainbow and Lloyd Webber himself singing the actress' praises.