Andrew Lloyd Webber Cancels BBC Wizard Of Oz Show
Andrew Lloyd Webber has scrapped plans to run a reality TV show for the BBC. Similar to ‘Any Dream Will Do’ and ‘I’d Do Anything’, Lloyd Webber had planned to launch a search for the a girl to star as Dorothy in a west end version of ‘The Wizard Of Oz.’
However as Webber gears up to launch his newest musical ‘Love Never Dies’ next year, he was worried that people would criticise him for trying to gain exposure for his own show.
“We will not be finding Dorothy through a BBC reality show – we’ve pulled it,” said Webber’s business partner André Ptaszynski.
“It’s just too risky. It’s only been in the last two or three weeks that we’ve realised how much of a field day people would have with it.
“Andrew would be accused of doing the BBC show just to get publicity for Love Never Dies. The BBC would then be made to look like it was giving him undue prominence.
“We spoke with BBC director general Mark Thompson and we agreed to pull it.”
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I am really disappointed that the plug has been pulled on this one. As the Andrew Lloyd Webber Talent shows have been the best on TV. Personally I don’t see why they couldn’t have done this show and just refused to plug the other show or shows. Andrew does have 10 theatres in London and none of the shows have had any plugging by the BBC in the past other than the one show they are talent hunting on.
Is his choice to scrap auditions for definite?
Hello Poppy,
If you are interested in performing in musical theatre, the apparent fact that ALW has decided not to run a reality talent show for a child to play Dorothy does not mean that this is the end of the road. ALW and the many theatre associate music production companies do still hold auditions for parts as and when they become available. The main Newspaper for advertising comes out every week on a Thursday and is called The Stage. If you register with an online company to do auditions you can be charged for the service. So the best option is the cost of a newspaper as all auditions after that are charged at the discretion of the organiser. The majority of auditions for child roles are free. Best of luck.
[...] am very confused! Only weeks ago Andrew Lloyd Webber was criticising the BBC and saying that he wouldn’t be doing a show with them this year. In fact he hinted that he [...]