The search for Dorothy begins with the two-hour season premiere, featuring the first live performances from the Top 10 on September 16 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC-TV
September 13, 2012 - There’s no place like CBC to be part of the wonderful world of Oz - don’t miss the special two-hour season premiere of the all-new live competition series, OVER THE RAINBOW, on Sunday, September 16 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT). Hosted by popular media personality Daryn Jones, the live series showcases aspiring Canadian performers as they vie for the leading role of Dorothy in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s stage adaptation of The Wizard of Oz, opening this December at the Ed Mirvish Theatre, Toronto, ON. The two-hour series premiere of OVER THE RAINBOW captures the exciting journey from the Dorothy hopefuls at the cross-country auditions, followed by the Top 10 Dorothys performing live for the first time with Andrew Lloyd Webber in attendance, who will also join the judging panel for this special episode.
Viewers can travel along the yellow brick road with OVER THE RAINBOW‘s interactive second-screen app available for iPhone, iPad, Android, and via the web on all computers. The engaging new app automatically synchs with the show’s live broadcast to deliver an immersive experience into the land of Oz. Viewers will be able to take part in the show in real time, and have their say displayed back on TV live. Viewers can also access exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, get insider sneak peeks, plus earn more votes for their favourite Dorothy! The bigger the fan, the more influence viewers can have on the series outcome, when they connect with the OVER THE RAINBOW app. Canadians can vote for their favourite Dorothy at the end of each live performance show, either using the ground-breaking, interactive OVER THE RAINBOW app, through the Over the Rainbow Website or via telephone. Each viewer is able to cast ten votes via telephone and one vote online or through the app, but those who register with the app have the opportunity to earn more votes.
Each Sunday, on the hour-long performance episode, the Dorothys will perform a variety of Broadway, standards and pop numbers in front of a live studio audience. On the Monday following, beginning September 17 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT), the bottom two Dorothys, as determined by a public vote, will go head-to-head in a live sing-off. Judges Arlene Phillips, the famed UK TV judge, dance choreographer and director, Louise Pitre, Canada’s first lady of musical theatre, and one of Canada’s most popular leading men, Thom Allison, will then determine who will be sent home. The weekly half-hour results episodes will also feature a search for Toto with the top dog performing live with the Dorothys in the season finale. Comedians Deb McGrath and Colin Mochrie, along with award-winning dog breeder, Mike Macbeth, form the judging panel that will help to select OVER THE RAINBOW‘s top dog from 10 of the most lovable contenders.
In anticipation of the premiere of OVER THE RAINBOW, viewers can re-live the magic of Oz with the network debut of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, on Saturday, September 15 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC Television.
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For more behind-the-scenes footage and exclusive content, visit CBC LIVE at cbc.ca/live. Follow CBC Live on Twitter at twitter.com/cbclive and on Facebook at facebook.com/cbclive.
For more information including series synopses, biographies and high-resolution images, please visit the CBC Media Centre at https://mediacentre.cbc.ca. Over the Rainbow is produced by Temple Street Productions for the CBC.
About CBC/Radio-Canada CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio, television, Internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages, plus five languages for international audiences. In 2011, CBC/Radio-Canada celebrated 75 years of serving Canadians and being at the centre of the democratic, social and cultural life of Canada.
About Temple Street Productions Temple Street Productions is a leading producer of television, film and digital media content based in Toronto, Canada. A selection of Temple Street’s past and present projects includes: Being Erica (CBC, SOAPnet), Wingin’It (Family Channel), Cover Me Canada (CBC), Recipe to Riches (Food Network, Global), Billable Hours (Global, Showcase), Canada’s Next Top Model (CTV), How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? (CBC), Queer as Folk (Showtime, Showcase) and Darcy’s Wild Life (NBC, Discovery Kids, Family Channel). For more company information www.templestreetproductions.com, twitter @TempleStreet or connect with us on Facebook.
For further information, please contact:
Renée Weekes
Publicist
Over the Rainbow
E.rweekes@stratapublicrelations.com
C. 414-205-5500 / O.416.894.7209
