- Audio CD (Aug 21 2006)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Format: Import, Cast Recording
- Label: Universal Music Group
- ASIN: B00000DBWS
- Other Editions: Audio Cassette
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
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Product Details |
Track Listings
| 1. Act I: Overture |
| 2. Act I: Over The Rainbow |
| 3. Act I: Miss Gulch |
| 4. Act I: Professor Marvel/Cyclone |
| 5. Act I: Munchkinland: Come Out, Come Out/Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead/Follow The Yellow Brick Road |
| 6. Act I: If I Only Had A Brain |
| 7. Act I: We're Off To See The Wizard |
| 8. Act I: If I Only Had A Heart |
| 9. Act I: We're Off To See The Wizard/Lions, Tigers And Bears/If I Only Had The Nerve |
| 10. Act I: We're Off To See The Wizard/Poppies |
| 11. Act II: Optimistic Voices |
| 12. Act II: Merry Old Land Of Oz |
| 13. Act II: King Of The Forest |
| 14. Act II: The Wizard's Chamber |
| 15. Act II: March Of The Winkies/The Jitterbug |
| 16. Act II: The Witch's Castle |
| 17. Act II: Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead (Reprise) |
| 18. Act II: Finale |
| 19. Act II: Over The Rainbow (Reprise) |
Product Description
From Amazon.com
How do you fill the ruby slippers of Judy Garland? That's a question, thankfully, only Jessica Grove needs to answer. It's difficult not to hear indelible tunes like "Over the Rainbow" and "We're Off to See the Wizard" without thinking way back to the MGM movie version of 1939, but this touring-cast production uses unique enough music arrangements to stand on its own. Though two stars grace the album's cover--Mickey Rooney as the Wizard and Eartha Kitt as the Wicked Witch of the West--the pair hardly overshadow the upstart cast. Dirk Lombard as the Tin Man, Judith McCauley as Glinda the Good Witch, and Grove herself all deliver inspired performances, and some of the tunes--especially the "Munchkinland" medley--sound superb and remarkably fresh. Judy Garland (for most of us) will always own the role of Dorothy, but this musical does its best to breathe new life into a classic story--60 years after the fact. --Jim Young
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
Quite possibly the greatest Oz CD ever....
Dec 26 2003
Format:Audio CD
Thankfully, in 1998 the powers that be over at Madison Square Garden decided to record their version (a slightly altered Royal Shakespeare Company version) of THE WIZARD OF OZ and we should all be very thankful that they did. This CD is quite possibly the best recording of The Wizard of Oz to ever hit the shelves (or lack thereof).
As far as content is concerned, this CD is the reigning champ!!! Most of the dialogue has been retained in order to be able to fully appreciate the performances of Mickey Rooney (as the Wizard, The Guard, Professor Marvel, etc.) and Eartha Kitt (Miss Gultch and the ultra wicked yet, because of Kitt, incredibly sexy, Wicked Witch of the West). She even gets to sing!!! For over sixty years the Wicked Witch has been numberless, but now we get to hear her sing to Niko (her Flying Monkey) all about the wonders of the Jitterbug! The Jitterbug a song that was cut from the 1939 film is used in most stage productions and the involving of the Wicked Witch was an inspired decision. And of course we get to hear Eartha Kitt doing her purring and growling as well.
The music has been slightly re-orchestrated for this production to give it a fresh feel and it does so effortlessly. Another great reason to get this CD is because of Jessica Grove. Her performance as Dorothy is magical. Her voice is genuine and just the perfect match for the roll. She embraces the emotion of the Judy Garland interpretation, that we all love so much, and takes it to another level as only a great actress can. (Look for her name over the title of a Broadway show very soon!) Lara Teeter, Dirk Lambard and Ken Page (Old Deuteronomy in B'way's CATS) all deliver perfect interpretations of The Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion. This truly is an enjoyable listen.
England may have Cinderella or Peter Pan, but we've got THE WIZARD OF OZ! What a joy! As Mickey Rooney so happily narrates during the overture, this story has managed to touch our hearts for over a century. No doubt, it will continue to do so as the years pass.
As far as content is concerned, this CD is the reigning champ!!! Most of the dialogue has been retained in order to be able to fully appreciate the performances of Mickey Rooney (as the Wizard, The Guard, Professor Marvel, etc.) and Eartha Kitt (Miss Gultch and the ultra wicked yet, because of Kitt, incredibly sexy, Wicked Witch of the West). She even gets to sing!!! For over sixty years the Wicked Witch has been numberless, but now we get to hear her sing to Niko (her Flying Monkey) all about the wonders of the Jitterbug! The Jitterbug a song that was cut from the 1939 film is used in most stage productions and the involving of the Wicked Witch was an inspired decision. And of course we get to hear Eartha Kitt doing her purring and growling as well.
The music has been slightly re-orchestrated for this production to give it a fresh feel and it does so effortlessly. Another great reason to get this CD is because of Jessica Grove. Her performance as Dorothy is magical. Her voice is genuine and just the perfect match for the roll. She embraces the emotion of the Judy Garland interpretation, that we all love so much, and takes it to another level as only a great actress can. (Look for her name over the title of a Broadway show very soon!) Lara Teeter, Dirk Lambard and Ken Page (Old Deuteronomy in B'way's CATS) all deliver perfect interpretations of The Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion. This truly is an enjoyable listen.
England may have Cinderella or Peter Pan, but we've got THE WIZARD OF OZ! What a joy! As Mickey Rooney so happily narrates during the overture, this story has managed to touch our hearts for over a century. No doubt, it will continue to do so as the years pass.
Fresh and impressive!
Jun 27 2003
Format:Audio CD
As a sign language interpreter, I interpret productions at our local theater house. I wasn't thrilled to learn that the next play would be the Wizard of Oz since I didn't like the movie as a child. Still, I had to practice so I bought the Madison Square Garden CD and FELL IN LOVE WITH IT! Their performances are impressive and the musical arrangements are fantastic! The cast is superb! I've been playing the CD daily and sometimes find myself not practicing my signing because I get caught up singing along instead.
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Most recent customer reviews
How could it be better than this?
When I was cast as one of the Three Crows (among other things) in my high school's production of THE WIZARD OF OZ, I decided to buy this recording, because I had heard bits and... Read more
Published on April 14 2001 by "closetohome19"
Best "Wizard of Oz" Recording Ever!!!
This is a wonderful CD. It is the Original Madison Square Garden Cast. It features two of Broadway's best...Mickey Rooney(who played Prof. Read more
Published on Mar 10 2001
the wizard of oz madison square garden
When I got it. I thought it was wonderful. To the time that I turned it on in the car, to the time that I listened to it at home. I loved it. every family should buy it. Read more
Published on Sep 6 2000
oz-some
I saw the play on tour and i loved it so much i had to buy the cd. it was great. Eartha Kit sounded great and jazzy in the jitterbug. Read more
Published on Aug 4 2000
oz-some
I saw the play on tour and i loved it so much i had to buy the cd. it was great. Eartha Kit sounded great and jazzy in the jitterbug. Read more
Published on Aug 4 2000 by "dak543"
GREAT
this cd was great. The singing was wonderfull. It almost had the whole performance on it. If your thinking againsed this cd, think again!
Published on Jun 29 2000 by Robert Kinnear
Toto-ly Enchanting!
This 1998 Cast recording of The Wizard of Oz will steal your heart. Mickey Rooney is charming as the title role and Eartha Kitt is a menacing and sexy witch. Read more
Published on Mar 28 2000 by Melanie Brooks
Not Quite Perfect
The singers in this new recording are all right. especially Eartha Kitt, who delivers an enchanting version of "The Jitterbug. Read more
Published on July 14 1999
"The Wizard of OZ" is as magical as ever!!!
I just saw the touring cast at Washington, D.C. a few days ago and I was astonished. This show totally wipes away the visions of the movie and takes a new life of its own. Read more
Published on Mar 18 1999
A completely fun and beautiful version of The Wizard!
This recording of the 1998 touring cast is supurb! It captures a young audience with a few new lyrics and songs (The Jitterbug), without losing reverence to the original songs. Read more
Published on Sep 29 1998 by trntyumc@iwaynet.net
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