Unveiling the secrets of the Little Witch Academia book

Little Witch Academia is a book series written by Yoh Yoshinari and illustrated by Keisuke Sato. It follows the story of a young girl named Atsuko Kagari, who enrolls in the Luna Nova Magical Academy to fulfill her dream of becoming a witch. The book is set in a world where magic exists, but is fading away. At Luna Nova, Akko befriends two other aspiring witches, Lotte and Sucy. Together, they navigate the challenges of learning magic, making friends, and overcoming their own insecurities. Throughout the series, Akko faces numerous obstacles and setbacks on her journey to become a witch.

It was based on a book

Winkies male chorus Winkie General Leader of the Winkies Range B2-G3 Flying Monkeys dancers Nikko Commander of the Monkeys Jitterbug Lead Dancer Jitterbugs Ghosts SATB chorus dancers. Reunited with all her loved ones, and relieved to learn the storm has left Miss Gulch incapacitated by a broken leg, Dorothy shares the tale of her miraculous journey, celebrating the joy and healing power of home.

Throughout the series, Akko faces numerous obstacles and setbacks on her journey to become a witch. She is often seen as an underdog due to her lack of magical skills, but her determination and positive attitude help her overcome these challenges. One of the main themes in Little Witch Academia is the power of friendship.

The Wizard of Oz (RSC Version)

Dance and Vocal Arrangements by Peter Howard / Orchestration by Larry Wilcox
Adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company
Based upon the Classic Motion Picture owned by Turner Entertainment Co. and distributed in all media by Warner Bros.

We're off to see the wizard! This beloved tale, in which a Kansas farm girl travels over the rainbow to discover the magical power of home, has entertained audiences for generations.

Image: 1939 Film Version (THE WIZARD OF OZ and all related characters and elements © & TM Turner Entertainment Co. (s19))

The Wizard of Oz (RSC Version)

• Cast Size

Cast Size

Duration

Subgenre

Fantasy, Adventure, Adaptations (Literature), Adaptations (Stage & Screen), Theatre for Young Audiences, Fables/Folktales

Target Audience

Appropriate for all audiences, Young Children (Age 2 - 5), Children (Age 6 - 10), Pre-Teen (Age 11 - 13)

Accolades

• Winner! 1940 Academy Award for Best Music, Original Song ("Over the Rainbow")
  Winner! 1940 Academy Award for Best Music, Original Score

Details

Summary

Follow the yellow brick road in this delightful stage adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s beloved tale, featuring the iconic musical score from the MGM film. The timeless tale, in which young Dorothy Gale travels from Kansas over the rainbow to the magical Land of Oz, continues to thrill audiences worldwide.

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There are two full-length versions of The Wizard of Oz: MUNY and RSC. Both include the songs “Over the Rainbow,” “Munchkinland (Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead),” “If I Only Had a Brain/a Heart/the Nerve,” “We’re Off to See the Wizard (Follow the Yellow Brick Road),” “Jitterbug,” and “The Merry Old Land of Oz.” The MUNY version also has “Evening Star.” The RSC version also includes “Poppies (Optimistic Voices)” and “If I Were King of the Forest.”

This RSC version is a more faithful adaptation of the film. A more technically complex production, it recreates the dialogue and structure of the MGM classic nearly scene for scene, though it is adapted for live stage performance. The RSC version’s musical material also provides more work for the SATB chorus and small vocal ensembles.

The MUNY Version is more theatrically conservative, employing its stage, actors, singers, dancers, and musicians in traditional ways. Using L. Frank Baum’s book – and not the MGM film – as its inspiration, this version employs story and songs as elements of a classic stage musical, adding a bit more humor to the witch and her cronies. The MUNY version does not include Toto, but instead adds new characters, including Farmhand Joe, Gloria of Oz, Lord Growlie, Tibia (the witch’s skeletal assistant), two comical neighboring witches, and the Royal Army of Oz.

History

The MGM film The Wizard of Oz, based on L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel, premiered Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on August 15, 1939. This stage adaptation, presented by the Royal Shakespeare Company, premiered at the Barbican Centre in London on December 17, 1987. The production starred Imelda Staunton as Dorothy and featured Bille Brown as the Wicked Witch of the West, Paul Greenwood as the Scarecrow and John Bowe as the Tin Man. Imelda Staunton's husband, Jim Carter (of Downton Abbey fame) played the Cowardly Lion.

Cast Attributes

• Expandable casting
• Roles for Teens
• Roles for Children
• Strong Role for Leading Man (Star Vehicle)
• Strong Role for Leading Woman (Star Vehicle)

Keywords

Performing Groups

• Jr High/Primary
• High School/Secondary
• College Theatre / Student
• Community Theatre
• Dinner Theatre
• Professional Theatre
• Outdoor
• Large Stage
• Church / Religious Groups
• Youth/Camp Programs

Act I

Dorothy Gale, a young girl living on a Kansas farm with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry, dreams of escaping her mundane life (“Over the Rainbow”). The family’s mean neighbor, Miss Gulch, threatens to impound Dorothy’s cherished dog, Toto, so Dorothy and Toto run away. They meet up with kindly Professor Marvel, who subtly convinces Dorothy to return home. Suddenly a cyclone hits, and Dorothy and Toto, seeking shelter in the house, are transported to the Land of Oz.

In Oz, Dorothy meets Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. Apparently, Dorothy’s house has landed upon – and fatally stricken – the Wicked Witch of the East. The Munchkins, now freed from the Wicked Witch of the East, celebrate and hail Dorothy as their new heroine (“Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead/Munchkin Musical Sequence”). Suddenly, the Wicked Witch of the West appears, interrupting the celebration and seeking vengeance. Unable to reclaim her sister’s shoes, which are now on Dorothy’s feet, the Witch vows to return and disappears in a cloud of smoke. Dorothy, seeking a way back home to Kansas, sets off to see the Wizard of Oz (“Follow the Yellow Brick Road”).

Along the way, Dorothy meets three new friends, each of whom lacks a crucial characteristic: The Scarecrow (“If I Only Had a Brain”) The Tinman (“If I Only Had a Heart”) and the Lion (“If I Only Had the Nerve”). Together, the four new companions make their way towards Oz (“We’re Off to See the Wizard”). The Witch attempts to sedate the travelers with a poisonous field of poppies, but Glinda reverses the spell with healing snowflakes (“Poppies/Optimistic Voices”).

Act II

The travelers, arriving at the Emerald City, are delayed by a stubborn Gatekeeper, but Dorothy’s tears convince him to relent and let them in (“Merry Old Land of Oz”). As the group awaits its audience with the Wizard, the Lion boasts he is “King of the Forest.” Finally, they meet the imposing and irritable Wizard, who demands the broomstick of the Wicked Witch of the West.

The four friends travel deep into the haunted forest. Suddenly, they encounter jitterbugs, who make them dance until they collapse from exhaustion (“Jitterbug”). The Wicked Witch’s flying monkeys swoop down, capturing Dorothy and Toto. At the castle, the Witch vows to take Dorothy’s life (“Over the Rainbow” Reprise). Meanwhile, the Lion, Scarecrow, and Tinman infiltrate the castle disguised as Winkie guards. The foursome and Toto are reunited, but the Wicked Witch interferes, threatening the Scarecrow with fire. Dorothy, dousing the flames with a bucket of water, accidentally strikes the Witch, who smolders and melts into nothing (“Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead” Reprise). The four friends, triumphant, take the Witch’s broom back to the Wizard.

The Wizard remains imperious and imposing, but Toto pulls aside a curtain to reveal a meek and ordinary man speaking into a microphone. The Wizard, revealed to be a “humbug,” nonetheless grants each traveler’s request, giving the Scarecrow, the Tinman, and the Lion each a token of his newly acquired ability. The Wizard offers to take Dorothy back to Kansas in his hot-air balloon, but the balloon accidentally takes off, and Dorothy is left alone and crestfallen. Glinda appears and explains that Dorothy has always had the power to return home. All she has to do is close her eyes, tap her heels together three times, and repeat to herself, “There’s no place like home.”

Back in Kansas, Dorothy awakens, confused, with a bump on her head. Reunited with all her loved ones, and relieved to learn the storm has left Miss Gulch incapacitated by a broken leg, Dorothy shares the tale of her miraculous journey, celebrating the joy and healing power of home.

Principals
(3 female; 5 male. Roles intended to be doubled are indicated with a slash.)

DOROTHY GALE – (Range: G3-C5 (opt. E5))
AUNT EM – Emily Gale / GLINDA – The Good Witch of the North (Range: G3-C5)
UNCLE HENRY – Henry Gale / EMERALD CITY GUARD (Range: Bb2-Eb4)
ZEKE – Farmhand / COWARDLY LION (Range: Bb2-F4)
HICKORY – Farmhand / TINMAN (Range: Bb2-G4)
HUNK – Farmhand / SCARECROW (Range: Bb2-F#4 (opt. Ab4))
MISS ALMIRA GULCH / THE WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST – non-singing role
PROFESSOR CHESTER MARVEL / THE WIZARD OF OZ – non-singing role

Ensemble/Chorus Roles
(Minimum of 16 ensemble performers required. The original RSC production featured 38 ensemble performers.)

CITIZENS OF MUNCHKINLAND
Mayor – (Range: Bb2-Eb3 or Bb3-Eb4)
Coroner – (Range: Bb2-A3 or Bb3-A4)
Barrister
Fiddler – (Range: C3-C4 or C4-C5)
Braggart
3 Tots – (Range: Bb2-D4 or Bb3-D5)
3 Tough Guys – (Range: Bb2-D4 or Bb3-D5)
3 City Fathers
2 School Teachers

Three Crows – male trio (Range: B2-E4/B4)
Three Trees – female trio (Range: B3-C5/E5)
Poppies – female chorus
Snowmen – male chorus

OZIANS
Beauticians – female chorus
Polishers – male chorus
Manicurists – female chorus
2 Oz Men
2 Oz Women

Winkies – male chorus
Winkie General – Leader of the Winkies (Range: B2-G3)
Flying Monkeys – dancers
Nikko – Commander of the Monkeys
Jitterbug – Lead Dancer
Jitterbugs & Ghosts – SATB chorus/dancers

We borrowed every unused arc light in Hollywood. It was brutally hot. People were always fainting and being carried off the set. - Wizard of Oz cinematographer Harold Rosson

Akko's friendship with Lotte and Sucy is a central part of the story, and they support and encourage each other throughout their time at Luna Nova. The book also emphasizes the importance of being true to oneself and following one's dreams, even in the face of adversity. The illustrations in the book are beautifully done and bring the characters and the magical world to life. The story is fast-paced and engaging, with plenty of action, humor, and heartwarming moments. Little Witch Academia has gained a loyal following since its release, and has been adapted into an anime television series and a film. It has garnered praise for its endearing characters, imaginative world-building, and positive messages. Overall, Little Witch Academia is a delightful book series that will appeal to fans of fantasy, magic, and stories of friendship and self-discovery. Whether you are a young reader or simply young at heart, this book is sure to charm and inspire you..

Reviews for "Unlocking the mysteries of the Little Witch Academia book"

1. Sarah - 2/5 Stars - I found "Little Witch Academia" to be quite underwhelming. The plot felt disjointed and lacked depth. Additionally, the characters were poorly developed and lacked relatability. Overall, I found it difficult to connect with the story or feel any genuine interest in the events unfolding. It was a disappointing read for me.

2. Michael - 1/5 Stars - I was extremely disappointed with "Little Witch Academia" as it failed to deliver any sense of originality or compelling storytelling. The plot was predictable and lacked the necessary elements to keep me engaged. The dialogue felt forced, and the attempts at humor fell flat. I was hoping for a unique and imaginative tale, but unfortunately, this book didn't meet my expectations at all.

3. Emma - 2/5 Stars - I was excited to dive into the world of witches with "Little Witch Academia," but I ended up feeling let down. The pacing was inconsistent, with some parts dragging on while others seemed rushed. The writing style didn't resonate with me, as it lacked the descriptive elements that could have brought the magical elements to life. Perhaps this book would appeal to a younger audience, but for me, it didn't offer much substance.

4. Jacob - 2/5 Stars - "Little Witch Academia" left me feeling unsatisfied. The story felt like a hodgepodge of familiar tropes without offering anything new or exciting. The character development was weak, and the relationships between the characters felt superficial. While the concept of a witch school is intriguing, the execution fell short for me. I was hoping for a captivating adventure, but unfortunately, this book didn't deliver.

The empowering messages hidden within the Little Witch Academia book