The Wizard of Oz: The Complete Musical & Audition Guide
There’s no place like home, and there may be no musical more familiar than The Wizard of Oz. A Kansas farm girl, a twister, a yellow brick road, and three friends looking for a brain, a heart, and courage. The stage version we’re covering here, adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company, follows the 1939 MGM film almost scene for scene, with all of Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg’s beloved songs.
I was in a production of The Wizard of Oz back in the olden days of the 1900s. 1999, to be exact. It was one of my first musical productions — at 15, I was an Ozian, and my younger sister was a Munchkin (the Munchkins also doubled as Winkies, the Wicked Witch’s guards!).
More recently — just last year, in fact — my youngest daughter played a Munchkin in a beautiful production!
It’s a natural fit for community theatres and schools. It has a huge cast with roles for kids, teens, and adults, a story everyone already knows, and plenty of stage magic. You’re likely to sell out the audience with this one!
Whether you’re getting ready to audition for Dorothy, or deciding whether your theatre can handle the technical elements like the cyclone and the melting, read this guide to learn all about the show. Looking for an audition song? Our Audition Song Finder can match you with songs for your role, voice, and age.
The Wizard of Oz at a Glance
| Based on | L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel and the 1939 MGM film |
| Music and lyrics | Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg; background music by Herbert Stothart |
| Stage adaptation | John Kane, for the Royal Shakespeare Company (the “RSC version”) |
| Premiere | Barbican Centre, London, December 17, 1987, with Imelda Staunton as Dorothy |
| Setting | The Gale farm in Kansas and the Land of Oz, 1930s |
| Structure | Two acts; about two hours |
| Cast | 3 women and 5 men in the principal roles (several doubled between Kansas and Oz), plus at least 16 ensemble performers. The original RSC production had 38. |
| Audience | Concord lists it as appropriate for all audiences, with no special cautions |
| Musical style | Classic movie-musical songs with lots of SATB chorus and small-group singing |
| Dance / movement | Concord rates dance as “Easy,” but the Jitterbug, the Winkies, and the Flying Monkeys give dancers featured moments |
| Other versions | Concord also licenses The Wizard of Oz (MUNY Version) and The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition. Make sure you apply for the version you want. |
| U.S. licensing | Concord Theatricals (on behalf of Tams-Witmark) |
| Orchestra | Extra-large: reeds, oboe, horns, trumpets, trombone, harp, keyboard, two percussion, and strings. If a full orchestra isn’t in the cards, rehearsal and performance tracks are also available (see Music, below) |
The Wizard of Oz Synopsis
Act One
On a Kansas farm, Dorothy dreams of a better place “Over the Rainbow.” The family’s mean neighbor, Miss Gulch, comes to take Toto away, so Dorothy and Toto run off. They meet kindly Professor Marvel, who gently convinces Dorothy to go home. Before she can get inside the storm cellar, a cyclone lifts the house, with Dorothy and Toto in it, all the way to the Land of Oz.
The house lands on the Wicked Witch of the East. Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, and the Munchkins celebrate (“Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead”), until the Wicked Witch of the West arrives to claim her sister’s ruby slippers. Glinda has already put them on Dorothy’s feet, so the Witch vows revenge. Glinda sends Dorothy down the Yellow Brick Road to ask the Wizard of Oz to send her home.
Along the way, Dorothy meets the Scarecrow (“If I Only Had a Brain”), the Tin Man (“If I Only Had a Heart”), and the Cowardly Lion (“If I Only Had the Nerve”). The four set off together (“We’re Off to See the Wizard”). The Witch puts them to sleep in a field of poppies, but Glinda sends snow to wake them up.
Act Two
A stubborn guard finally lets the friends into the Emerald City, where they get a full makeover (“The Merry Old Land of Oz”). While they wait, the Lion imagines what he’d do “If I Were King of the Forest.” The great and terrible Wizard agrees to grant their wishes, but only if they bring back the Wicked Witch’s broomstick.
In the Haunted Forest, the Witch sends the Jitterbug to dance them into exhaustion, and her Flying Monkeys carry Dorothy and Toto off to her castle. Trapped, Dorothy sings for home (“Over the Rainbow” reprise). Her friends sneak into the castle disguised as Winkie guards. When the Witch sets the Scarecrow on fire, Dorothy throws a bucket of water, which accidentally hits the Witch, and she melts.
Back at the Emerald City, Toto pulls back a curtain to reveal that the Wizard is an ordinary man. He still gives the Scarecrow a diploma, the Tin Man a heart-shaped clock, and the Lion a medal. His hot-air balloon leaves without Dorothy, but Glinda tells her she’s always had the power to go home. She clicks her heels three times, says “There’s no place like home,” and wakes up in Kansas, surrounded by the people (and farmhands) she loves.
The Wizard of Oz Characters and Casting
In the RSC version, the Kansas characters double as their Oz counterparts, just like in the film, and Concord’s breakdown shows those pairings. The vocal ranges below come from Concord. Directors often cast flexibly, and the ensemble is a great place for kids, teens, and adults to share the stage.
Principal Roles
| Character | Role description | Vocal range |
| Dorothy Gale | A Kansas farm girl who dreams of something more, and learns there’s no place like home. She’s onstage almost the entire show. | G3–C5 (optional E5) |
| Hunk/Scarecrow | A farmhand in Kansas; in Oz, a floppy, lovable scarecrow who wants a brain. | B♭2–F♯4 (optional A♭4) |
| Hickory/Tin Man | A farmhand in Kansas; in Oz, a rusted, tender-hearted tin man who wants a heart. | B♭2–G4 |
| Zeke/Cowardly Lion | A farmhand in Kansas; in Oz, a big, blustery lion who wants courage. | B♭2–F4 |
| Miss Almira Gulch/Wicked Witch of the West | The neighbor who wants Toto destroyed; in Oz, the green-skinned Witch out to get the ruby slippers. | Non-singing role |
| Professor Marvel/Wizard of Oz | A traveling fortune-teller in Kansas; in Oz, the booming Wizard who turns out to be an ordinary man. | Non-singing role |
| Aunt Em/Glinda | Dorothy’s no-nonsense aunt; in Oz, the Good Witch of the North. | G3–C5 |
| Uncle Henry/Emerald City Guard | Dorothy’s gentle uncle; in Oz, the stubborn guard at the Emerald City gates. | B♭2–E♭4 |
Featured Roles and Ensemble
| Character / group | Role description | Voice / movement |
| Munchkins: Mayor, Coroner, Barrister, Fiddler, Braggart, City Fathers, School Teachers, Tots, Tough Guys | The citizens of Munchkinland, who celebrate Dorothy’s arrival. Great featured spots for kids and adults. | Mayor B♭2–E♭3 or B♭3–E♭4; Coroner B♭2–A3 or B♭3–A4; Fiddler C3–C4 or C4–C5; Tots and Tough Guys B♭2–D4 or B♭3–D5 |
| Three Crows (male trio) | They tease the Scarecrow in “If I Only Had a Brain.” | B2–E4/B4 |
| Three Trees (female trio) | The grumpy apple trees in “If I Only Had a Heart.” | B3–C5/E5 |
| Poppies and Snowmen | The sleep-inducing poppy field (female chorus) and Glinda’s snow (male chorus). | Chorus |
| Ozians: Beauticians, Polishers, Manicurists, Oz Men and Women | The residents of the Emerald City who give the travelers their makeover. | Chorus |
| Winkies and the Winkie General | The Witch’s marching castle guards. | Male chorus; General B2–G3 |
| Flying Monkeys and Nikko | The Witch’s minions; Nikko is their commander. | Dancers |
| Jitterbug and Jitterbugs/Ghosts | The Haunted Forest creatures who dance the travelers into exhaustion. | Lead dancer, SATB chorus and dancers |
| Toto | Dorothy’s dog. Productions use a real dog or a puppet. | Non-singing |
The Wizard of Oz Song List
These are the main sung numbers in the RSC version, in show order. The score also includes a lot of orchestral underscoring and scene-change music, which isn’t listed here.
| Song | Featured performers | What happens |
| Over the Rainbow | Dorothy | Dorothy dreams of a place where there isn’t any trouble. |
| Munchkinland / Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead | Glinda, Dorothy, Munchkins | The Munchkins celebrate the Wicked Witch of the East’s death and honor Dorothy. |
| Yellow Brick Road | Munchkins | The Munchkins send Dorothy off to see the Wizard. |
| If I Only Had a Brain | Scarecrow, Dorothy, Crows | Dorothy frees the Scarecrow from his pole, and he dreams of being smart. |
| We’re Off to See the Wizard | Dorothy and her friends | The song returns as each new friend joins the trip. |
| If I Only Had a Heart | Tin Man, Dorothy, Trees | Dorothy oils the rusted Tin Man, and he longs for a heart. |
| Lions, Tigers and Bears | Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow | The friends nervously enter the dark forest. |
| If I Only Had the Nerve | Lion, Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow | The Lion admits he’s a coward and joins the group. |
| Poppies | Glinda, Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow, Lion, chorus | The Witch’s poppies put them to sleep, and Glinda’s snow wakes them. |
| Optimistic Voices | Girls’ chorus | The Act Two opening, as the Emerald City comes into view. |
| The Merry Old Land of Oz | Dorothy, friends, Guard, Ozians | The travelers get polished up in the Emerald City. |
| If I Were King of the Forest | Lion with Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow | The Lion imagines being brave while they wait to see the Wizard. |
| March of the Winkies | Winkies | The Witch’s guards march at the castle. |
| Jitterbug | Dorothy, friends, Jitterbugs | The Witch’s Jitterbug makes the friends dance until they drop. |
| Winkies March / Over the Rainbow (Reprise) | Dorothy, friends, Winkies | The friends sneak into the castle in disguise, and Dorothy, trapped, longs for home. |
| Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead (Reprise) | Winkies | The Witch’s guards celebrate after she melts. |
Need an audition song for The Wizard of Oz?
Get some divine help. See our picks for every major character or track, or let the Audition Song Finder match you with songs based on your role, voice, age, and style.
Auditioning for The Wizard of Oz
An audition for The Wizard of Oz is a chance to show warmth, clear storytelling, and a bit of character. Here are some tips:
- Pick a song that fits the style. A classic or Golden Age musical theatre song suits this score better than pop or rock. If you’re stuck, here’s how to choose an audition song that suits you and the show.
- Think about the doubled role. If you’re auditioning for Hunk/Scarecrow, Hickory/Tin Man, or Zeke/Lion, show the casting team that you can play both the Kansas farmhand and a big, physical Oz character.
- Bring the physical comedy. The Scarecrow’s floppy legs, the Tin Man’s creaky joints, and the Lion’s bravado are all very physical. If you move well, let it show.
- For the Witch and the Wizard, these are non-singing roles in the RSC version, so expect to read. You may still be asked to sing for the general audition, so check the notice.
- Skip “Over the Rainbow,” unless asked. Directors will hear it many times. Choose another song that shows Dorothy’s sincerity and range.
- Expect to dance a little. Ensemble hopefuls may learn a short Jitterbug, Winkie, or Munchkin combination. If you get a callback, our guide to musical theatre callbacks explains what usually happens next.
Producing The Wizard of Oz in Community Theatre
Concord calls the RSC version a “more technically complex production,” and it’s true. It follows the film nearly scene for scene, so audiences will be watching for the cyclone, the ruby slippers, the melting Witch, and the Wizard’s balloon. The good news is that a little creativity goes a long way, and the story carries the show even with simple effects.
In our daughter’s recent production, the farmhouse was a simple frame, which easily came apart, and ensemble members moved the pieces around the stage during the cyclone scene. It was fun and unexpected to see the house theatrically break into pieces.
Cast
Cast Dorothy first. She’s onstage almost the whole show. Look for a Witch with big presence and comic timing, and a Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion who work well as a team. The ensemble needs to be large (at least 16 performers), and it’s a wonderful show for mixing kids, teens, and adults. Concord’s breakdown shows the Kansas/Oz doublings, so decide early whether you’ll follow some or all of them.
Toto
Decide early whether Toto will be a real dog or a puppet. A real dog needs a calm temperament, a handler backstage, and plenty of rehearsal time with Dorothy. A puppet or a stuffed dog in a basket is a perfectly good option, especially for younger casts.
Effects
These are the tricky moments: the cyclone (projection, fabric, lighting, and sound work well), the Witch’s entrances and exits in smoke, the melting (often a trapdoor or a costume collapse under a cape), the Wizard’s booming voice and curtain, and the hot-air balloon. Flying the Witch or the Monkeys is optional, and if you do it, hire a professional flying company.
Costumes, Makeup, and Wigs
Doubled actors need quick changes between Kansas and Oz, especially at the end of the show when they return to Kansas. The Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion costumes are the big builds, and the Tin Man and Witch need face makeup that works with fast changes. Dorothy needs her gingham dress, braids, and the ruby slippers (with an onstage quick shoe change), and the Emerald City scene needs plenty of green. Ensemble members playing several groups (Munchkins, Ozians, Winkies) will need fast, simple changes too.
Music
The full orchestration is extra-large, with a harp, multiple reeds, horns, and two percussionists. If gathering a band that size isn’t realistic for your theatre, don’t let that stop you: rehearsal and performance tracks are available through Right On Cue Services (ROCS). Show|Ready gives your cast rehearsal tracks they can practice with at home, and Stage|Tracks provides the performance tracks for the show itself. You order both through your Concord licensing representative, so ask about them when you apply. One thing to know: Concord notes that performance tracks aren’t permitted for professional licensing customers, so they’re an option for community and school productions.
If this is your first time producing this show, reach out to other theatres in your area that have done it. Many will rent or loan costumes, props, Toto puppets, and set pieces, or share how they handled the trickier effects.
Is The Wizard of Oz a Good Choice for Community Theatre?
For most theatres, yes. The Wizard of Oz is familiar, family-friendly, and easy to sell. It also has roles for performers of nearly every age. It works best when you have:
- A Dorothy with a warm voice and plenty of stamina
- A Witch, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion who are strong character actors
- A large, enthusiastic ensemble (at least 16)
- A creative team with a plan for the cyclone, the melting, and Toto
- Enough costume and makeup support for lots of quick changes
The Wizard of Oz has been a part of so many people’s first theatre experiences, onstage and in the audience. It’s a story about friendship, courage, and finding your way home, and it’s a joy to share with performers of every age.
Have you been in The Wizard of Oz? Tell us in the comments which role you played, or which show you’re auditioning for next!
