Boston Goes Over The Rainbow To Oz

It is, undoubtedly, one of the most beloved stories in the cannons of American theater, film, and literature. Now, The Wizard of Oz is coming to Boston for one weekend only to delight fans who are seeing it for the first or umpteenth time.

When the story opens, we meet Dorothy in the home of her aunt and uncle. After a tornado tears the house up off of the Kansas plain and transports Dorothy and her little dog Toto to the magical world of Oz, the real story begins. In an effort to return home to the Midwest, Dorothy traverses the yellow brick road to the Emerald City to see the wonderful Wizard of Oz. Along the way she encounters witches of both the good and evil varieties, a Scarecrow who needs a brain, a Tin Man wanting a heart, and a Cowardly Lion in need of courage.

A detailed synopsis is probably unnecessary given that the references in pop culture to the story are legion, and the fact that the 1939 film starring Judy Garland is firmly ensconced in the American cultural milieu. Theater goers should not be surprised then if they find themselves humming along with the musical numbers, or chanting “lions, and tigers, and bears. Oh my!” with Dorothy.

Playing at the Boston Opera House, the show is running on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, January 12th through 14th. Inspired by the classic film, which in turn was adapted from the 1900 novel by L. Frank Baum, the Boston production features music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg, with direction provided by Dean Sobon, and choreography by Amy Marie McCleary. The show is billed as “a new, refreshed and lavish rendition of the beloved classic” where audiences “will be dazzled by the brightly colored sets, charmed by its timeless score and enthralled with its breathtaking special effects.”

This tour of The Wizard of Oz  stars Kalie Kaimann as the heroine Dorothy, with Kirk Lawrence as Professor Marvel/The Wizard. Emily Perzan will get you, my pretty, as the Wicked Witch of the West, while Victor Legarreta performs as Lion, Christopher Russell as Tin Man, and Chris Duir as Scarecrow. Ashleigh Thompson is cast as the good witch Glinda, and Murphy performs as Toto.

Tickets to any of the five performances of this Broadway in Boston production can be purchased online.  With a run time of just over 100 minutes, this promises to be a “spectacular celebration of that classic 1939 MGM film”. Bring the whole family to see Dorothy click her heels three times and make some new memories that will last a lifetime.