Russell Grant to play The Wizard of Oz

Danielle Hope and Michael Crawford will play their last performances in Andrew Lloyd Webber's production of The Wizard of Oz, on 5 Feb 2012.

Sophie Evans who has been playing Dorothy on Tuesdays, will take over full time, and Russell Grant, recently seen in the 2011 series of Strictly Come Dancing, takes over the role of The Wizard from 14 February 2012, for a limited 12-week season.

The show opened at the London Palladium 1 March 2011, following previews from 7 February, to moderate notices from the popular press, and is currently taking bookings to 28 Oct 2012.

The Wizard of Oz has music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E Y Harburg, with additional music and lyrics by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice .

It is directed by Jeremy Sams, choreography by Arlene Phillips, designed by Rob Jones. produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Bill Kenwright.

Click your heels together and join Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion, Dorothy and her little dog Toto, as they journey through the magical land, helped and hindered by the Witches of Oz, to meet the Wizard and obtain their heart's desires. Songs include: Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Follow the Yellow Brick Road, If I Only Had a Heart and We're Off to See the Wizard.

- by Darren Dalglish