Disclaimer: The Fandads were invited to the Press performance of The Wizard of Oz. All thoughts, opinions and songs stuck in our heads after the show are our own.
The Wizard of Oz has been a big part of my life since for as long as I could remember. When I was younger my family would get together to watch the movie on television. I remember the first time I saw the movie go from black & white to color, I was amazed. It felt like I was watching a different movie that was so full of life with all the vibrant colors. Watching the movie with my family is not the only connection I have to the Wizard of Oz, it also runs in my immediate family.
When my wife was in 6th grade she played Dorothy in her school’s version of the play. There is videotape of that performance somewhere hidden in her parent’s house. When my daughter was in preschool we caught the Wizard of Oz on television and she became obsessed with Dorothy. My daughter was so obsessed that she wanted to be Dorothy for Halloween, so my entire family dressed as characters from the movie.
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As you can see by the pictures above, my son was not really into dressing as the cowardly lion. After a while though, he somewhat enjoyed wearing the lion suit and we had a fun time on that Halloween night.
A few weeks ago, my son and I were lucky enough to attend a private lunch in advance of the new production of The Wizard of Oz”. At this lunch, we were treated to a special performance by Dorothy who is played by Kalie Kaimann. Kalie came out and sang “Over the Rainbow” to the small crowd. After her performance, she answered questions for the assembled guest and posed for pictures.
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Last week my family was invited to see the live production of “The Wizard of Oz” and it was amazing. My daughter was excited to see her favorite characters on stage, but as we were taking our seats it occurred to me that my son had never seen The Wizard of Oz and that this was going to be his first experience seeing it. Just that thought alone had me excited about seeing the show. Was he going to like it? Would he get scared with the flying monkeys? I did not know how he was going to react to the show.
The show was magical! It was pretty amazing to see how they created the tornado effect and somehow made it look like the color of the actor’s clothes got brighter once they landed on Oz. All of your favorite songs are sung with such feelings that you can’t help but sing-a-long, but I would leave the singing to the professionals. There is one new song that has been included called “The Jitterbug” that might have you dancing in your seats.
Although you think you know the entire story of Oz, this show has a few new jokes or lines in the performance that kept it fresh but also stays true to the original story. After the show, we were sharing our favorite parts of the show and while we all agreed that the cowardly lion’s introduction was our favorite, we also like the Lion King joke that was thrown in and the crows during the Scarecrow’s song. As for my son, he was humming “We’re off to see the Wizard” on the entire ride home that is until he fell asleep.
Friends, make sure you attend this run of The Wizard Of Oz at the Chicago Theater and you too will be singing as you leave the theater and make the journey back to Oz, I mean home.
Are you a fan of The Wizard of Oz? What was your favorite song and songs are you excited to see performed live? Share your answers with us in the comments below.
The Madison Square Garden Company will bring one of the most beloved family musicals, “THE WIZARD OF OZ”, to Chicago at The Chicago Theatre (175 N. State St.) from now until May 20, 2018. Tickets for “THE WIZARD OF OZ” range from $39 – $129. Tickets are available online at www.chicagotheatre.com and are also available at The Chicago Theatre box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, and Ticketmaster phone charge.
This magical production is a celebration of the classic 1939 MGM movie and will be presented with breathtaking special effects that will sweep audiences away, from the moment the tornado twists its way into Kansas. Featuring the classic songs, composed by Harold Arlen with lyrics by E.Y. Harburg, “Over the Rainbow,” “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead” and “If I Only Had A Brain,” along with the beloved characters, “THE WIZARD OF OZ” will have the entire family captivated as they travel down the yellow brick road for an unforgettable day at the theater.