DIRECTOR’S NOTE
The Wizard of Oz has been celebrated and performed nearly unbroken in various adaptations since 1903. I think part of the appeal has to do with the deeply relevant themes present in the narrative that haven’t really changed too much since L. Frank Baum wrote the original novel in 1900. Ideas like yearning for something more (just beyond the rainbow), feeling like you’re missing something important that if only you had it, everything would be better, only to find that when you get there, or get the thing you’ve been thinking you needed, you start to understand the value of what you at first took for granted. These are still terribly relevant realities that resonate now.
Our three friends that accompany Dorothy all yearn for things they are sure they are missing: the Tinman for a heart, the lion for courage, the scarecrow for a brain. What has surprised us is how consistently each of them embodies the qualities they think they lack (or have been convinced they don’t have). Our rehearsal has illuminated some of these themes in ways that weren’t always expected. We’ve found humor where we weren’t always expecting to find comedy, as well as moments of heartfelt depth that isn’t just sentimental and nostalgic, but evoke experiences that are deeper and more thoughtful.
Of course, a story that has been so popular for so long brings with it certain expectations that sometimes are driven by particular nostalgia. In staging this particular version of the story, we were very keen to embrace the realities of our production: the beautiful backdrop afforded by being in the mountains at Sundance, the scale of the space and our audience, our backdrop being a literal sunset - these are all elements I was interested in folding into our production, and you will find hints of Sundance throughout our show that make this particular staging unique.
This amazing company of actors, technicians, and crew have been working tirelessly for months to bring this story to life for you in one of the most stunning theatrical spaces we have had the privilege to perform in. We hope you enjoy our show, and find this story and its themes as compelling and timely as we have.
Chase Grant Director
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