In this reimagining of The Wizard of Oz, playwright Don Zolidis explores grief and courage through satire. Our production amplified the comedy while honoring the emotional truth at its core: grief is not something we simply "get over," but something we integrate into our life story to empower us to move forward.
To ground the story in a world familiar to our audience, I anchored Dorothy's journey in Oak Cliff, Dallas, Texas—the very community in which this production was created. Home became gray, simple, and calm, reflecting the stillness that often accompanies loss, while Oz burst into saturated color, joy, and possibility. Munchkin Land drew inspiration from Bishop Arts, Emerald City echoed the Dallas skyline, the Scarecrow emerged from Texas farmland, the Lion roamed the Dallas Zoo, and the Tinman inhabited the industrial landscape of the Design District.
Ultimately, this production celebrated the idea that there truly is no place like home—not because home remains unchanged, but because it gives us the courage to return transformed.