The Wizard of Oz



The Wizard of Oz refers to a series of books written by American author L. Frank Baum, the first of which, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, was published in 1900. Baum wrote thirteen sequels to the original novel, and a total of forty books written by a variety of authors belong in the series' canon. The books are set in the fairyland of Oz, which is split into four countries: Munchkinland (East), Quadling (South), Winkie (West), and Gillikin (North) - one of the many quirks is that each of these countries is one color only. None of the sequels, however, have reached the heights of popularity achieved by the first book, which has been adapted for the stage and screen on multiple occasions.

"The Wizard of Oz is still one of my favorite movies. It was the first movie I ever saw." —Jim Henson

It has been stated that the popular 1939 MGM musical The Wizard of Oz was Jim Henson's favorite film, and the Muppets have made numerous references to it over the years. While most of these references have been based on the film, the Muppets' 2005 adaptation, The Muppets' Wizard of Oz, was based more on the original novel, as indicated by such inclusions as the Kalidahs and the silver slippers, as opposed to the ruby ones that Judy Garland so famously wore in the film.

Synopsis
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz tells the story of a Kansas farmgirl named Dorothy Gale who is being raised by her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry when a tornado sweeps through their home and airlifts it, with Dorothy and her dog Toto inside, to the Land of Oz. When the house lands in Munchkinland, it crushes the Wicked Witch of the East and liberates the Munchkins she had enslaved. With guidance from the Tattypoo, the Good Witch of the North, Dorothy travels down the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City where she hopes the Wizard will be able to send her back home. Along the way, she befriends the Scarecrow, the Tin Thing, and the Cowardly Lion, destroys the Wicked Witch of the East's surviving sister, the Wicked Witch of the West, exposes the Wizard as a fraud, and meets Glinda, the Good Witch of the South, who shows her how to return home.

Connections

 * John Alexander played the Cowardly Lion and a Wheeler in Return to Oz (1985)
 * Ashanti played Dorothy in the City Center's production of The Wiz (2009)
 * Robbie Barnett played a Wheeler in Return to Oz (1985)
 * Sean Barrett voiced Tik-Tok in Return to Oz (1985)
 * Frances Bergen played Glinda the Good in the Shirley Temple Storybook episode "The Land of Oz" (1960)
 * Milton Berle voiced the Cowardly Lion in Journey Back to Oz (1974)
 * Mel Blanc voiced Sawhorse and the Book in the Shirley Temple Storybook episode "The Land of Oz" (1960) and voiced the Crow in Journey Back to Oz (1974)
 * Denise Bryer voiced Billina in Return to Oz (1985)
 * Kristin Chenoweth originated the role of Glinda in Wicked on Broadway
 * Lyle Conway voiced the Gump in Return to Oz (1985)
 * Joel Grey originated the role of The Wizard in Wicked on Broadway, and played the Wizard in The Wizard of Oz in Concert: Dreams Come True'' (1995)
 * Margaret Hamilton played Miss Gulch/the Wicked Witch of the West in the 1939 film, and voiced Auntie Em in Journey Back to Oz (1974)
 * Brian Henson voiced Jack Pumpkinhead in Return to Oz (1985)
 * Geoffrey Holder directed the original Broadway production of The Wiz (1975)
 * Lena Horne played Glinda in The Wiz (1978)
 * Michael Jackson played the Scarecrow in The Wiz (1978)
 * Carol Kane played Madame Morrible in the 1st National Tour of Wicked
 * Nathan Lane played the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz in Concert: Dreams Come True (1995)
 * Paul Lynde voiced Pumpkinhead in Journey Back to Oz (1974)
 * Pons Maar played the lead Wheeler and Nome messenger in Return to Oz (1985)
 * Jean Marsh played Mombi/Head Nurse Wilson in Return to Oz (1985)
 * Ethel Merman voiced Mombi in Journey Back to Oz (1974)
 * Liza Minnelli voiced Dorothy in Journey Back to Oz (1974)
 * Richard Pryor played The Wiz in The Wiz (1978)
 * Tim Rose puppeteered Tik-Tok in Return to Oz (1985)
 * Diana Ross played Dorothy Gale in The Wiz (1978)
 * Deep Roy played the Tin Man in in Return to Oz (1985)
 * Michael Sundin played Tik-Tok (body performer) in Return to Oz (1985)
 * Jonathan Taylor Thomas voiced Scarecrow Jr. in The Oz Kids (1996)
 * Ben Vereen was a replacement for the Wizard in Wicked on Broadway
 * Frank Welker voiced Toto and Winged Monkeys in The Wizard of Oz (1990 animated series)
 * Mak Wilson puppeteered Billina in Return to Oz (1985)
 * Jonathan Winters played Lord Nikidik in the Shirley Temple Storybook episode "The Land of Oz" (1960)
 * Exclusive sneak peeks of Oz the Great and Powerful were shown inside the Muppet*Vision 3-D theater