The Wizard of Oz
July 6
August 25, 2019
CST's Courtyard Theater
by L. Frank Baum
with music & lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg
adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company
directed by Brian Hill
choreographed by Kenny Ingram
Harold Arlen
Composer & Lyricist
HAROLD ARLEN Born and bred in New York, Mr. Arlen began his career as an accompanist in vaudeville and appeared occasionally as a band vocalist on records, often singing his own compositions. During his career he wrote over 500 songs, including “Get Happy,” “Let’s Fall in Love,” and “Stormy Weather” (all with lyrics by Ted Koehler). He had a long and productive partnership with Johnny Mercer with many resulting hits, including “That Old Black Magic,” “Blues in the Night,” and “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate-the-Positive.” Broadway musicals include Bloomer Girl, St. Louis Woman, House of Flowers, Jamaica and Saratoga. Films include The Pretty Girl, The Farmer Takes a Wife, and Gay-Purree. With Ira Gershwin he wrote “The Man That Got Away” for Judy Garland to sing in A Star Is Born. Mr. Arlen won an Oscar for the song “Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz.