360° TOUR The Wiz: Tickets available now!
Harrow Hong Kong is proud to present The Wiz, the School’s showcase Upper School musical for 2019, with performances to be held on Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th March.
A Tony Award-winning musical adapted from L. Frank Baum’s original The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Harrow Hong Kong’s interpretation sees a multi-department, multi-year group collaboration complete with live orchestra and show-stopping tunes.
Cast member Audrey (Year 9, Anderson) sets the scene for an evening of ‘fun and fantasy, good and evil, laughter and tears’:
“Since the start of the academic year, a talented cast of 80 pupils from Harrow Hong Kong has been strenuously rehearsing to create a whiz-bang of a production –The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical ‘Wonderful Wizard of Oz’.
“The Wiz is a musical adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s original The Wonderful Wizard of Oz story, with music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls and book by William F. Brown. With an unforgettable and tuneful soundtrack of soul-inspired music, the musical is renowned for its hit songs, such as the central theme Ease on Down The Road, the show-stopper Everybody Rejoice/A Brand New Day and the heartwarming Home/Finale.
“Originally performed by an all-black cast in 1975, the Broadway production proved to be an immense success, winning seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. This was a milestone achievement for African Americans as it marked the beginning of Broadway’s acceptance of all-black productions. This strongly resonates with Harrow’s core value of diversity, which is why this particular musical was selected to be Harrow’s annual Upper School production for 2019, as we would like to celebrate the fact that theatre is universal and that it can be performed or enjoyed by everyone. Although Harrow does not have an all-black cast, it does have a multicultural cast of actors and actresses from different backgrounds, who are all equally passionate about theatre and the performing arts.
“Since the auditions back in September, the avid performers have enthusiastically and tirelessly rehearsed every Thursday afternoon, flourishing under the direction of Mr Chris McInnes, Harrow Hong Kong’s Director in Residence, and the guidance of our inspirational teachers. During rehearsals, pupils rehearse scenes, dances and numbers with their unique ensemble groups, each with contrasting characters. Our four ensemble groups are the lavish Emerald Citizens, the teasing Crows and the menacing Monkeys, the jovial Munchkins and the wicked Winkies, and the iconic Yellow Brick Road.
“The production has certainly been a whole-School effort, with pupils all the way from Year 6 to Year 13 contributing to different aspects from the show. The collaboration and integration of the School’s three Arts departments has been spectacular, allowing gifted pupils with distinct talents a chance to unleash their potential. The Art department has made countless props and designed parts of the set. The shows will feature a live orchestra of the Music department’s virtuosic instrumentalists, to accompany the melodious singing of our performers from the Drama department.”
The Wiz performances will take place from 7.00pm-9.30pm on Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th March in the Queen Elizabeth II Hall. Tickets are free of charge, and are available now on a first come, first served basis from drama-events@harrowschool.hk
