George Bugatti’s WiZaRD to Play Jazz at Lincoln Center in December; Be The Next Dorothy Search to Kick Off July 31

The new musical WiZaRD, created, written and directed by George Bugatti, will open at New York City’s Jazz at Lincoln Center in December 2010.

The musical is centered on the works of Wizard of Oz composer Harold Arlen, and the Harold Arlen Foundation is one of the show’s producers. The show unfolds in the mythical radio studios of W-Z-R-D. Wendell Owens, host of the radio show Absolutely Arlen, weaves stories through production numbers, with the help of WZRD’s in-house radio players.

In conjunction with the musical’s New York run, Bugatti and the Harold Arlen Foundation are conducting a nation-wide talent search entitled Be the Next Dorothy, for actresses between the ages of 16 and 21. The entire competition will be filmed for an online reality series where America can follow all the contestants during the entire 11-city run.

The search will kick off at Glendale Galleria in Glendale, California on Saturday, July 31 with additional audition cities including Las Vegas, Denver, Dallas, Chicago, St Louis, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Boston, Paramus (NJ), and New York City. Tony nominated producer Tom Gregory will emcee all 11 auditions.

For more information, including complete contest rules and registration visit www.wizardthemusical.com.