OzWiki:Current events: Difference between revisions

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===''The Wizard of Oz'' and ''The Wiz'', throughout the United Kingdom===
===''The Wizard of Oz'' and ''The Wiz'', throughout the United Kingdom===
'''Now playing: ''The Wizard of Oz'', throughout the United Kingdom.''' Oz is a popular show to perform in the United Kingdom, and there always seems to be a show going on somewhere. For a complete listing of all upcoming productions of ''The Wizard of Oz'' in the United Kingdom, see the listings at [http://www.list.co.uk/events/theatre/what:The%20Wizard%20of%20Oz/sort:date/show:100/ ''The List''], naturally. They also have listings for performances of [http://www.list.co.uk/events/theatre/what:The%20Wiz/sort:date/show:100/ ''The Wiz''].
'''Now playing: ''The Wizard of Oz'', throughout the United Kingdom.''' Oz is a popular show to perform in the United Kingdom, and there always seems to be a show going on somewhere. For a complete listing of all upcoming productions of ''The Wizard of Oz'' in the United Kingdom, see the listings at [http://www.list.co.uk/events/theatre/what:The%20Wizard%20of%20Oz/sort:date/show:100/ ''The List''], naturally. They also have listings for performances of [http://www.list.co.uk/events/theatre/what:The%20Wiz/sort:date/show:100/ ''The Wiz''].
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===''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' exhibit, Grapevine, Texas===
'''Now through August 21: ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' exhibit, Grand Gallery, Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau, Grapevine, Texas.''' The children's museum exhibit based on the book comes to the heart of Texas—and it's free! For details and hours, see the website at http://www.grapevinetexasusa.com/grapevine-museums/galleries/grandgallery/. There's also an article at http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/colleyville-courier/article25414738.html.


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Revision as of 12:29, 25 June 2015

Other Oz events can also be found on the Wizard of Oz Calendar of Events page on Facebook.

Going on now

Wicked play, around the world

Now playing: Wicked. This is 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:

  • A British Isles touring production is now making the rounds, with the following dates and cities announced:
  • Wicked is back touring Australia. Currently planned stops are:

The Origins of Oz documentary, national cablecast and on the Internet

Now playing: The Origins of Oz documentary, Smithsonian Channel cablecast and the Internet. This look at the Oz phenomenon and its influence has the following broadcasts scheduled (all times listed are EDT/PDT):

  • (No showings scheduled.)

You can also watch it online at the program's website, at http://www.smithsonianchannel.com/sc/web/show/137669/origins-of-oz-the.


The Wonderful Wizard of Song revue, New York City, New York

Now playing: The Wonderful Wizard of Song revue, St. Luke's Theatre, New York City, New York. This Off-Broadway show celebrates the music of Harold Arlen, one of America's greatest songwriters. Among his classics are the songs from The Wizard of Oz. Shows are Wednesdays through Sundays at 8:00 p.m., and tickets cost $39.50 and $69.50. For more information, or to purchase tickets, see the show's website at http://www.thewonderfulwizardofsong.com/.


"Not in Kansas Anymore" episode of Fame, on the Internet

Now playing: "Not in Kansas Anymore" episode of Fame, hulu.com. Episodes of the classic series Fame are now available to watch on the Internet, including this Oz-themed episode. Doris, after finding out that she's not eligible to be in the next show, conks herself on the head and dreams that the School for the Arts has been transformed into Oz, with all of her friends and teachers playing its citizens. To watch, go to http://www.hulu.com/watch/151850/fame-not-in-kansas-anymore.


"The Wizard of Paws/Pinocchio Penguin" episode of Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater, on the Internet

Now playing: "The Wizard of Paws/Pinocchio Penguin" episode of Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater, hulu.com. Hello Kitty and the gang put on their own version of The Wizard of Oz (and Pinocchio, too). To watch, go to http://www.hulu.com/watch/120366#s-p3-so-i0.


The Shirley Temple Storybook Collection: The Land of Oz, on the Internet

Now playing: The Land of Oz episode of The Shirley Temple Storybook Collection, hulu.com. This 1961 episode of Temple's show adapts the second Oz book. Features Temple herself as Ozma and Tip, Agnes Moorehead as Mombi, Jonathan Winters as General Nikidik, Sterling Holloway as Jack Pumpkinhead, Ben Blue as the Scarecrow, Gil Lamb as the Tin Woodman, and Mel Blanc as the voice of the Sawhorse. To watch for free on hulu.com, go to http://www.hulu.com/watch/369199.


The Wizard of Oz and The Wiz, throughout the United Kingdom

Now playing: The Wizard of Oz, throughout the United Kingdom. Oz is a popular show to perform in the United Kingdom, and there always seems to be a show going on somewhere. For a complete listing of all upcoming productions of The Wizard of Oz in the United Kingdom, see the listings at The List, naturally. They also have listings for performances of The Wiz.


The Wonderful Wizard of Oz exhibit, Grapevine, Texas

Now through August 21: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz exhibit, Grand Gallery, Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau, Grapevine, Texas. The children's museum exhibit based on the book comes to the heart of Texas—and it's free! For details and hours, see the website at http://www.grapevinetexasusa.com/grapevine-museums/galleries/grandgallery/. There's also an article at http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/colleyville-courier/article25414738.html.


June 2015

(No events scheduled.)


July/August 2015

Winkie Convention, San Diego, California

Oz Con 2015.jpg

July 31-August 2, 2015: Winkie Convention, Town and Country Resort, San Diego, California. The longest running Oz convention celebrates its fifty-first edition. This year marks the centennial of The Scarecrow of Oz, forty years of The Wiz on Broadway, thirty years of Disney's Return to Oz, and twenty years of the novel Wicked. Special guests this year include such Return to Oz luminaries as Piper Laurie (Aunt Em), Emma Ridley (Ozma), Justin Case (the Scarecrow), Paul Maslansky (Producer), and Joan D. Vinge (author of the novelization). For more information, keep your eyes on the convention website at http://www.ozconinternational.com/, and the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Winkie-Con-The-Longest-Running-Wizard-of-Oz-Event/131961676887674. And registration is now open at http://www.ozconinternational.com/registration.html.


August 2015

Oz Fest Illinois, Mapleton, Illinois

August 15, 2015: Oz Fest Illinois, Butler Haynes Park, Mapleton, Illinois. This one day festival, at the site of a permanent Wizard of Oz children's garden, will feature Oz characters, an Oz costume parade, an Oz puppet show, exhibitions, vendors, and more. For more information, see the festival's Facebook page.


September 2015

Oztoberfest, Wamego, Kansas

September (date to be announced), 2015: Oztoberfest, Wamego, Kansas. The town not only has an Oz museum, they put on an annual Oz festival. Authors and other special guests will attend, and there's also admission to the museum. For more details, call the Oz museum at 1-866-458-TOTO, or see the event's website at http://oztoberfest.com/.


Midwest Oz Fest 2015, Tinley Park, Illinois

September 11-13, 2015: Midwest Oz Fest 2015, Tinley Park, Illinois. To celebrate seventy-five years of the famous movie version of The Wizard of Oz, the southwest suburbs of Chicago are hosting a big festival, with vendors and food and rides and games and parades and all the rest. It's early still, but to stay on top of the festival's progress, keep an eye on http://midwestozfest.com/, or the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Midwest-Wizard-of-Oz-Festival/577056169054982.


October 2015

Autumn at Oz Party, Banner Elk, North Carolina

October, 2015: Autumn at Oz Party, Beech Mountain, Banner Elk, North Carolina. The Wizard of Oz Park on the mountain may no longer be in regular operation, but it's still there, and Oz and park fans get together once a year for a party. For more information, check out http://www.autumnatoz.com/.


OzFest, Liberal, Kansas

October 3-4, 2015: OzFest, Liberal, Kansas. The home town of the Dorothy's House attraction hosts its annual tribute to Dorothy and Oz. For more information, see the event's website (and be sure to call 1-800-LIBERAL to confirm event and dates, as the website is a bit sparse on information).


November/December 2015

The Wizard of Oz, holiday cablecasts

The Wizard of Oz holiday cablecasts, TBS and TNT. The stations' annual holiday season showings of the famous film version are, generally speaking, around Thanksgiving on TBS and Christmas on TNT. Check back as the season gets closer.


December 2015

The Wiz national live broadcast, NBC

December 3, 2015: The Wiz live musical, NBC. The network's annual live musical has been announced, and it's an adaptation of The Wizard of Oz! Debuting on Broadway in 1975 and winning seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, The Wiz retells the story of The Wizard of Oz with an African-American cast. Furthermore, after the broadcast, plans are in the works to bring the show to Broadway in 2016. Stephanie Mills, Broadway's original Dorothy, will play Aunt Em. Keep watching the website, http://www.nbc.com/the-wiz-live, and this space for further information, including additional casting.


2015/2016

Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Wizard of Oz national tour

It appears the new stage production of The Wizard of Oz, based on The Movie but expanded with new material by Webber and songs by Tim Rice, is coming back for another tour. Here are the dates we've been able to discover so far:

These dates and locations will (presumably) be confirmed on the show's website in the not too distant future.


April 2016

Garmin Marathon in the Land of Oz, Olathe, Kansas

April 2016 (exact date to be announced): Garmin Marathon in the Land of Oz, Olathe, Kansas. If you're going to have a 26.2-mile run in Kansas, you may as well give it an Oz theme! For more information and to register, see the race's website at http://ozrun.org/.


May 2016

Wizard of Oz Month Celebration, the Internet

May 2016: Wizard of Oz Programming, Seasons & Celebrations, Live365.com Internet Radio. In honor of L. Frank Baum's birthday on May 15, this online radio station, with different topical programming each month, plays music about Oz, including songs from Oz movies and plays. Also in the mix is Judy Garland reprising her role as Dorothy in the 1950 Lux Radio Theatre adaptation of The Wizard of Oz. To listen, go to http://www.live365.com/stations/tc_arts_ent. You can also look for the station at http://www.athena365.com/index.live and on itunes Adult Contemporary radio.


Yellow Brick Road Festival, Sedan, Kansas

May 2016 (exact dates to be announced): Yellow Brick Road Festival, Sedan, Kansas. This town in Kansas celebrates The Wizard of Oz every year. For details, see http://www.lasr.net/travel/city.php?Sedan&Kansas&Yellow+Brick+Road+Festival&City_ID=KS0604019&Event_ID=KS0604019e002&VE=Y or call 620-725-4033.


June 2016

Oz-Stravaganza, Chittenango, New York

June (dates to be announced), 2016: Oz-Stravaganza, Chittenango, New York. L. Frank Baum's home town honors their favorite son with this annual festival (formerly known as Oz Fest). Events include a children's Oz costume contest; craft and vendor booths; the Munchkin Mile Kids Fun Run; and lots of other contests. For more information, see the festival's website at http://www.oz-stravaganza.com/, or the town's website at http://www.chittenango.org.


Judy Garland/Wizard of Oz Festival, Grand Rapids, Minnesota

June (dates to be announced), 2016: Judy Garland Wizard of Oz festival, Judy Garland Museum, Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Judy's home town celebrates their native daughter with a festival devoted to her and The Wizard of Oz. For more information, see the museum's website at http://www.judygarlandmuseum.com/.


Wizard of Oz Festival, Ionia, Michigan

June (dates to be announced(, 2016: Wizard of Oz Festival, Ionia, Michigan. This Michigan town becomes the latest city to hold a Wizard of Oz festival. For details and schedule, see the festival's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Wizardofozfestionia.