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Theatre legend Andrew Lloyd Webber has officially confirmed he will be searching for a Dorothy to star in the musical version of the Wizard Of Oz.

The search for Dorothy will be Webbers latest Saturday night talent show for the BBC. The search will also try to find Dorothy’s pet dog Toto. The winners of the programme will star in a West End production of the musical. The show follows on from I’d Do Anything, Any Dream Will Do and How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? 

As with the other shows in the series, The Wizard Of Oz, will be presented by Graham Norton. The search for Dorothy will begin in early 2010 with the programme airing later in the year.

Andrew Lloyd Webber has been a musical theatre icon for years, producing hit shows Joseph, Cats, Starlight Express, Jesus Christ Superstar and the all time classic The Phantom Of The Opera. At 61 Webber has won countless awards, helped the UK with Eurovision, currently launching Phantom 2 and still finds time to get involved with the new Oz project.
“I can’t wait to work with the BBC again in the hunt for Dorothy. As a cat man myself, however, I approach casting Toto with considerable trepidation.”

The Wizard Of Oz became a hit film in 1939 starring Judy Garland. One of the first films to be shot in colour, the film has become a classic, enjoyed by fans around the world.

In more recent years the story of the Wizard Of Oz has been brought back to life by hit musical Wicked, currently showing at the Apollo Victoria theatre. Originally a book by Gregory Maguire as a parallel to L. Frank Baum's Wizard Of Oz, the musical has won countless awards since it opened and is one of the West Ends top shows.

If you can’t wait until the Wizard Of Oz next year, book Wicked tickets here now.