Hannah Waddingham, who played the Witch in the Open Air theatre’s production of Into The Woods this summer, will take on witching duties once again next year to play the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard Of Oz at the London Palladium.
Waddingham, a regular on the West End stage, originated the role of Lady of the Lake in the London production of Monty Python’s Spamalot and, before Into The Woods, played Desiree in A Little Night Music at the Menier Chocolate Factory and Garrick theatre.
She is joined in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new production of classic tale The Wizard Of Oz by Paul Keating, Edward Baker-Duly and David Ganly as the unlikely trio who accompany young Dorothy on her adventures in Oz.
Keating, who plays the brainless Scarecrow, returns to the West End stage following performances in Little Shop Of Horrors, Tommy and Tick…Tick…Boom! Baker-Duly’s (Tin Man) credits include Gone With The Wind at the New London theatre and Rookery Nook at the Menier Chocolate Factory, while Ganly (Cowardly Lion) has appeared in Chicago, The Full Monty and, earlier this year, The Beauty Queen Of Leenane at the Young Vic.
Completing the principal cast, Emily Tierney will face off against Waddingham as Glinda the Good Witch. In joining The Wizard Of Oz Tierney will be on familiar territory; she has previously appeared in Wicked, Gregory Maguire’s prequel to L Frank Baum’s story, which is still running at the Apollo Victoria.
The new cast members will appear at the London Palladium alongside Danielle Hope, who won the role of Dorothy through BBC TV casting programme Over The Rainbow earlier this year, and Michael Crawford, who was already confirmed in the role of the Wizard.
Adapted from the famous 1939 movie, Lloyd Webber’s new production of The Wizard Of Oz combines the film’s well-known songs with new material written by himself and Tim Rice to tell the story of the young girl stranded in Oz who encounters munchkins, flying monkeys and witches as she attempts to get home to Kansas.
The Wizard Of Oz opens at the London Palladium on 1 March after previews from 7 February.
CB