Wireless Mics and Projection for The Wizard of Oz (RSC Version)
Show guide · Full-length · 8 principals plus a chorus of 16 or more · Reviewed by Stage Gear staff, October 2026
Short answer: plan on 12 channels. 10 body mics for the eight doubled principals and the Munchkin Mayor and Coroner, plus 2 spares. Cover Munchkinland, the Ozians and the Winkies with 3–5 area mics at the stage edge.
Stage Gear supplies wireless mics, rentals and projection to school and community theatres across the U.S. Our staff work in theatre; this guide is how we'd mic The Wizard of Oz (RSC Version).
Who gets a mic
We counted one pack per principal actor, following the RSC script's doubling: Dorothy, Scarecrow/Hunk, Tinman/Hickory, Lion/Zeke, Glinda/Aunt Em, the Witch/Miss Gulch, the Wizard/Professor Marvel and Uncle Henry/the Emerald City Guard. The Witch and the Wizard do not sing, but both speak over music and need to be heard. Add the Munchkin Mayor and the Coroner, who carry solo lines in Munchkinland. That is 10 body mics plus 2 spares, for 12 channels.
Borderline: the Barrister, the City Fathers, the Lullaby League and Lollipop Guild trios, the Ozian soloists, the Winkie General and Nikko. Stage them downstage near the area mics, or hand a spare to whoever has the most lines. If you split the doubled roles between two actors, each extra actor needs a pack; do not share packs between Kansas and Oz roles, because the changes come too fast. Toto has no mic, and barks are easiest as a sound cue.
Bigger budget: add the Barrister, one lead each for the Lullaby League and Lollipop Guild, and the Winkie General, for about 16 channels. Split doubles push you to 18–20.
Mic plot
| Ch | Role | Mic | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Channel 1 | Dorothy | Hairline, brown | In the braids or wig; she sings in nearly every scene. |
| Channel 2 | Scarecrow / Hunk | Hairline, brown | Under the hat line; survives the floppy, tumbling choreography. |
| Channel 3 | Tinman / Hickory | Hairline, beige | Tape under the funnel-hat edge, off the silver makeup. |
| Channel 4 | Cowardly Lion / Zeke | Hairline, brown | Mount at the front edge of the mane hood. |
| Channel 5 | Glinda / Aunt Em | Hairline, beige | Put it on her wig cap so wig changes don't move it. |
| Channel 6 | Wicked Witch / Miss Gulch | Hairline, black | Under hat and wig; keeps the mic off green makeup. |
| Channel 7 | Wizard / Professor Marvel | Earset, beige | Survives hat and costume swaps between Marvel and the Wizard. |
| Channel 8 | Uncle Henry / Emerald City Guard | Hairline, brown | Under the guard's hat; short scenes but key lines. |
| Channel 9 | Mayor (Munchkinland) | Hairline (3 mm), brown | Often a young performer; solo lines in Munchkinland. |
| Channel 10 | Coroner (Munchkinland) | Hairline (3 mm), brown | Solo verse confirming the witch is dead. |
| Channel 11 | Spare | Hairline (3 mm), beige | For a featured Munchkin or Ozian soloist. |
| Channel 12 | Spare | Hairline, beige | Backup for a failed pack, especially after the melting scene. |
Every Bodymic is wired for one transmitter family: Shure, Sennheiser, Audio-Technica, AKG, MiPro or Creative Audio. Build your Bodymics to match the packs you own. Cast Pack: every 4 Bodymics of the same style and capsule size earn a 5th free. This plot is a starting point; change any row to suit your cast.
The ensemble
Munchkins, Ozians, Winkies, Jitterbugs and the crows, trees, poppies and snowmen sing as groups. Cover them with 3–5 area or choir mics along the stage edge, and stage the big Munchkinland and Emerald City verses downstage. Young Munchkins sing softly, so bring the trios forward for the Lullaby League and Lollipop Guild. If a featured Ozian or Munchkin has a solo line, hand them a spare body mic for that scene rather than adding a channel.
Show notes from our team
- Doubled quick changes. Every principal except Dorothy changes between a Kansas role and an Oz role. Mount hairlines on the actor's own wig cap, not on the wig, so the mic stays put through each change.
- The Wizard's big voice. Keep the Wizard on his body mic and add reverb and low end on that channel for the throne-room scenes. Turn the effect off the moment he is revealed behind the curtain.
- The cyclone and flying monkeys. The tornado and the monkey attack combine loud music, effects and fast movement. Set levels at tech, ride the principal mics, and keep pack cables secured for any flying or lifts.
- Melting the Witch. Whether the Witch drops through a trap or vanishes under fabric, plan where her pack goes. Mute the channel on the cue and check the pack survives the exit before every performance.
Projection
The Kansas farm, the cyclone, Munchkinland, the Yellow Brick Road, the Emerald City and the Witch's castle all suit projected scenery, and projection makes the jump from Kansas to Oz easy to show. Most school auditoriums need 7,000–10,000 lumens with the right lens; smaller black boxes need less.
Our sister company Broadway Media makes Scenic Projections for The Wizard of Oz (RSC Version). Not sure which projector? Read Stage Projectors for Digital Scenery.
Rent it for the run, or own it
| What you get | Next step | |
|---|---|---|
| Rent for the show | A 12-channel wireless rental, Monday to Monday around tech week. Tested before it ships, return labels in every case. | See rental systems |
| Own it | Creative Audio Show-Ready, 16 channels: receivers, bodypacks and antennas racked, programmed and tested. $ 11,190.38. | See the system |
| Mics for the packs you have | Bodymics for the whole cast: hairline from $79, earsets and headsets from $99. | Build your Bodymics |
Buying for a school? U.S. public schools can pay by purchase order. How school ordering works.
Common questions
- How many wireless mics does The Wizard of Oz need?
- Plan on 12 channels for the RSC version: 10 body mics for the eight doubled principals plus the Munchkin Mayor and Coroner, and 2 spares. Area mics at the stage edge cover the Munchkins, Ozians and Winkies.
- How do we mic the Munchkins in The Wizard of Oz?
- Use 3–5 area or choir mics along the stage edge and bring the Munchkins downstage for their big verses. Give body mics to the Mayor and Coroner, and hand spares to the Lullaby League and Lollipop Guild leads if you have them.
- How do we make the Wizard's voice sound big?
- Keep the actor on his body mic and add reverb and some low end on his channel for the throne-room scenes, sent through the main speakers. Switch the effect off when Dorothy pulls back the curtain.
- Can we rent mics just for our show week?
- Yes. Stage Gear rentals run Monday to Monday around tech week, so you have mics for rehearsals and every performance. Systems arrive tested with return labels, and school purchase orders are welcome.
Doing The Wizard of Oz (RSC Version) this year?
Get mic tips for your show and a reminder before rental season books up.
Stage Gear is not a show licensor. The Wizard of Oz (RSC Version) is licensed through Concord Theatricals (Tams-Witmark); production rights come from them. Stage Gear sells and rents the equipment. See you on stage!
