Wizard of Oz Events Calendar

Wizard of Oz events are held all around the world, all throughout the year. There is sure to be one held near you at some time. So go meet your fellow Oz fans, or see an Oz stage performance! Events are listed in chronological order. For more information on these events, please use the contact addresses given. The maintainer of this web site presents these events for informational purposes only, and is not responsible for any problems that may arise.

To publicize your local Oz events, use this e-mail link — the sooner, the better! Please include as much information as possible, including dates and times, location, and a contact address, phone number, and/or e-mail address.

For an important message about ticket brokers and Wicked, click here.

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Now playing: Wicked. This is it, the biggest thing to hit Oz in years: the award-winning musical based on Gregory Maguire's novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. The book is by Winnie Holzman, the music by Stephen Schwartz, and the show is directed by Joe Mantello. It has done so well, it has spawned the following sit-down companies:

Now playing: High Drama: Against All Oz, thewb.com. The late television network is reborn as an online broadcaster. Besides many old Warner Bros. shows, they also have a new reality series, a behind-the-scenes look at a high school's production of The Wizard of Oz. New episodes debut every Monday. To see the trailer and watch episodes, go to thewb.com/shows/high-drama/

Now through December 6, 2009: 70 Years of Yellow Bricks and Emerald Cities, Geppi's Entertainment Museum, Baltimore, Maryland. This museum, devoted to popular culture, celebrates seventy years of the famous MGM movie version of The Wizard of Oz with an exhibit of Oz memorabilia. For details, see the museum's website at geppismuseum.com.

Now through December 31, 2009: All Aboard the Oz Express, The Great Overland Station, Topeka, Kansas. To celebrate seventy years of the famous film version of The Wizard of Oz, this former railway station, now a museum, is exhibiting thousands of Oz items, most from the private collection of Topeka native and Oz fan extraordinaire Jane Albright. Admission is free to museum members and children 3 and under, $4 for adults, $3 for seniors, and $2 for children, with members of the military receiving a $1 discount. For more details, see the exhibit's website at greatoverlandstation.com/exhibits.htm.

Now through January 3, 2010: Wizards of Pop: Sabuda and Reinhart exhibition, Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha, Nebraska. Two of the premiere pop-up artists of today team up for an exhibition of their work. Included are examples from Sabuda's pop-up edition of The Wizard of Oz. For more information, see the museum's website at joslyn.org.

On tour: The Wizard of Oz national road show. This is a major theatrical touring company, based on the Royal Shakespeare Company's adaptation of the famous movie version. Currently scheduled stops include: Other dates and cities may be added later. For updated information, check out wizardofozontour.com.

November, 2009: The Wizard of Oz, national cable telecasts, TBS. The famous film version of the classic book by L. Frank Baum, with Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, Margaret Hamilton, Billie Burke, Frank Morgan, and Toto, too. Here is the lineup of showings: Check local listings for exact times and channel in your area. For more information, see TBS's Wizard of Oz page at http://www.tbs.com/movies/movietitle/0,,|321362|852,00.html.

November 17, 2009: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary Encore, movie theaters throughout the United States. It was so successful back in September that they're doing it again. NCM Fathom will again host a special one night screening of the famous 1939 film version of The Wizard of Oz at many of their theaters in the United States. For more details, including locations of theaters and to purchase tickets, see NCM's special website at www.ncm.com/Fathom/Premiere/WizardofOz_Encore.aspx.

December 11, 2009-January 3, 2010: The Wizard of Oz, Indianapolis Civic Theatre, Indianapolis, Indiana. The stage version of the famous movie version of the story, with all of the songs and dialogue. For more information, see the show's web page at www.civictheatre.org/oz.html

December 27, 2009: Oogaboo Rendezvous, Port Orchard, Washington. The Oogaboos, Oz fans in the Pacific Northwest, celebrate the holidays with their annual New Y'Oz Oogaboo Rendezvous. Events include conversation, games, a quiz, and a potluck dinner, plus early planning for the 2010 Winkie Convention. For more details, contact the host, Eric Gjovaag, via this e-mail link.

Sometime in 2010: Unnamed Wizard of Oz talent search show, BBC. Andrew Lloyd Webber is putting on a new stage production of The Wizard of Oz, and he wants to find a new musical theatre actress to play Dorothy, and a dog to play Toto. He's teaming up with the BBC to find them in a talent competition. Details will come when there are some to report.

Sometime in 2010: The Wizard of Oz, The West End, London, England, United Kingdom. Once he's cast his leading lady and canine, Andrew Lloyd Webber has to put on his show. It will debut in the West End after the conclusion of the talent search show.

April 11, 2010: Wicked Garden Party, Fresno, California. The Arne Nixon Center for the Study of Children's Literature has thrown a Secret Garden Party for several years now, and this year's event focuses on Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire. The party will feature songs from the musical version and other Ozzy surprises. For more information about the Secret Garden Party, call (559) 278-5790 or send e-mail to kelliew@csufresno.edu, or see the website at www.arnenixoncenter.org/events/index.shtml.

May 14-16, 2010: The International Wizard of Oz Club's National Convention, Fresno, California. The Club's third annual national convention, this year held in conjunction with the Arne Nixon Center for the Study of Children's Literature at California State University Fresno. Featured speakers will include Gregory Maguire, Michael Patrick Hearn, John Fricke, Kathleen Krull, Eric Shanower, and Susan L. Zeder. The Theater Arts department will also perform the musical Time Again in Oz, based on Ozma of Oz. For more details, see the Arne Nixon Center's website at www.arnenixoncenter.org/events/index.shtml#oz_anchor. You can also read about the Call for Papers for the event at www.arnenixoncenter.org/events/oz_con_call_for_papers.shtml.

June 4-6, 2010: Oz-stravaganza, Chittenango, New York. L. Frank Baum's home town honors their favorite son with this annual festival (formerly known as Oz Fest). For more information, see the festival's website at oz-stravaganza.com, or the town's website at www.chittenango.org

July 23-25, 2010: The Winkie Convention, Asilomar Conference Center, Pacific Grove, California. Highlights include the auction and sales tables, the costume contest, and the annual Winkie Award. Special presentations will highlight the centennial of The Emerald City of Oz. More information to come, or stay up to date on the event's FaceBook page.

September 17-19, 2010: Chesterton Wizard of Oz Festival, Chesterton, Indiana. One of the earliest Wizard of Oz festivals, this year Chesterton celebrates its twenty-ninth edition. For more information, see the event's website at www.ozfestivalchesterton.com

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