Allan Stewart joins the cast of The Wizard of Oz

The King's Theatre Glasgow are thrilled to announce final casting for the UK and Ireland tour of Michael Harrison and the Really Useful Group's The Wizard of Oz which begins rehearsals today.

Article Source: ATG
Last Updated: 21 November 2023 10:59

The new musical, based on the iconic story by L. Frank Baum, tours the UK and Ireland throughout 2024, following a celebrated run at the world-famous London Palladium.

It will open at The King’s Theatre, Glasgow where it plays from Tuesday 2 - Sunday 7 July 2024, tickets are on sale now via www.atgtickets.com

Joining previously announced Strictly Come Dancing star Craig Revel Horwood (The Wicked Witch of the West), principal casting is today confirmed: Allan Stewart (Stones in His Pockets, West End, UK Tour, Toronto; STV Hello, Good Evening, Welcome) as The Wizard, Aviva Tulley (Book of Mormon, UK Tour) as Dorothy, Benjamin Yates (ITV’s Emmerdale; Jersey Boys, West End) as The Scarecrow, Nic Greenshields (Love Never Dies West End; Les Misérables West End, International Tour) as The Cowardly Lion, Emily Bull (9 to 5, UK Tour; Matilda UK Tour) as Glinda The Good Witch and Abigail Matthews as Toto (Bleak Expectations, West End; War Horse, West End.

The cast is completed by David Burrows, Adam Craig, Cole Dunn, Tyler Ephraim, Olivia Kate Holding, Thomas Kalek, Sadie Levett, Kelsie-Rae Marshall, Martin McCarthy, Rose Ouellette, Fanja Parent, Alexandra Regan, Nathan Routledge and Sydney Spencer.

Allan Stewart (The Wizard) started his career at the age of 10 in the Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow. He appeared in clubs and theatres during his school days, and at the age of 16 wrote and recorded his first single at the Abbey Road studios, with the legendary Beatles producer, George Martin.

His voice broke and when he came back into the business two albums and the hit single Opening Night followed. Although he was initially known as a singer he was seduced by the sound of laughter and turned his attention to comedy and television. He starred in many series for STV including Hello, Good Evening, Welcome, The Allan Stewart Tapes, and his national television break came in the 80s with the hugely successful series Copy Cats, Live from the Palladium, Night of a 1000 Stars and many other high profile TV guest spots filled his diary. He hosted his own quiz show Chain Letters and appeared in two Royal Variety performances. He toured in the hit play Stones in his Pockets and played the part of Roger De Bris in the Mel Brooks musical The Producers. This year he headlines his 27th consecutive pantomime in Edinburgh. Allan is very excited to be touring in this wonderful new production of The Wizard of Oz.

Aviva Tulley (Dorothy): Aviva trained at The Brit School and Arts Educational School, London. Recent roles include Erzulie in Once On This Island (Southwark Playhouse) and in concert, Roles We’ll Never Play (Turbine Theatre). She played Nabulungi in the 2022 UK Tour of The Book of Mormon to celebrated reviews.
Benjamin Yates (The Scarecrow): Television credits include: Olly in Emmerdale (ITV). Theatre credits include: Jersey Boys (West End); School of Rock (West End); Wicked (UK Tour); Wonderland (UK Tour); West Side Story (Kilworth House); Cats (London Palladium, UK and European Tour); Jesus Christ Superstar (World Arena Tour); The Who’s Tommy (Blackpool Winter Gardens); Grease (Ljubljana Festival).

Nic Greenshields (The Cowardly Lion): Theatre Credits Include: Love Never Dies (Theatre Royal Drury Lane); Les Misérables (International Tour); Les Misérables - The Staged Concert (Sondheim Theatre); Young Frankenstein (Garrick Theatre); Guys And Dolls (Savoy/Phoenix Theatre); Billy Elliot (Victoria Palace); The Phantom Of The Opera (His Majesties Theatre); Into The Woods (Royal Opera House); Wonderful Town (Royal Exchange); The Beautiful Game (Cambridge Theatre); Les Misérables (Palace/Queens Theatre); Lautrec (Shaftesbury Theatre); Miss Saigon (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane); Oklahoma (UK Tour); Beauty And The Beast (International Tour); Cats (International Tour). Directing Credits: Resident Director, School Of Rock (Gillian Lynne Theatre) Assistant Director, The Railway Children (Kings Cross Theatre).

Emily Bull (Glinda The Good Witch): For Tonight (Adelphi Theatre); 9 to 5 (UK Tour & South Korea); Matilda (UK Tour); Mary Poppins (International tour); Sunset Boulevard (London Coliseum); The Station Master (Tristan Bates Theatre); How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Royal Festival Hall); Cabaret (UK Tour); Sweeney Todd (Adelphi Theatre & Chichester Festival Theatre); Les Misérables (Sondheim Theatre) and Grease (Piccadilly Theatre).

Abigail Matthews (Toto): Bleak Expectations (Criterion Theatre, West End); Bye Bye Birdie (Rose and Crown, Offie Nominated for Best Supporting Actress); War Horse (Gillian Lynne Theatre); A Winter’s Tale & The Hired Man (Landor Theatre, Offie Nominated for Best Supporting Actress); The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (360° Theatre, Kensington Gardens); Evita (UK & European Tour).
Join Dorothy, Toto and friends on an unforgettable adventure down the yellow brick road to the merry old land of Oz.

Featuring the iconic original score from the Oscar-winning MGM film, including Over The Rainbow, Follow The Yellow Brick Road and We're Off To See the Wizard - with additional songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice - this spectacular production will be a truly magical experience for all the family.

Directed by Nikolai Foster (Billy Elliot The Musical, A Chorus Line) The Wizard of Oz has choreography by Shay Barclay, Set Designer is Colin Richmond, Projection Designer is Douglas O’Connell, Costume and Puppet Designer is Rachael Canning, Lighting Designer is Ben Cracknell, Sound Designer is Adam Fisher, Creative Consultant is Mark Kaufman, Musical Supervisor is George Dyer, casting by Debbie O’Brien, Props Supervisor is Marcus Hall Props, and Wigs, Hair and Makeup Designer is Elizabeth Marini.

The Wizard of Oz on tour is presented Michael Harrison, Gavin Kalin Productions, David Mirvish, Crossroads Live, Tulchin Bartner Productions, Nick Thomas, Rupert Gavin and Mallory Factor, Jake Hine and Playing Field, by arrangement with the Really Useful Group Ltd.

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