Wizard of Oz worth another trip down the Yellow Brick Road

The Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences is known for its excellent family theater and its current production, The Wizard of Oz, continues that tradition nicely. All your favorite characters are there in glorious form. From the moment Toto runs across the stage, you are enchanted.

The audience starts out quietly enjoying the show. It’s a family event, so there are the normal quiet noises as children settle in to their seats. By the time Dorothy first follows the Yellow Brick Road, the entire audience is singing. It’s something the show encourages -- as if the actors know it’s simply too hard to hear the songs without singing them. It’s a lively addition to the stage production.

The actors pay homage to the movie, but bring their own personalities to each role. Our girls fell in love with the munchkins and then the Cowardly Lion until they saw the palace guards. The bright, colorful show is so engaging that they fell in love with characters over and over again. Weeks later they are still singing the songs and pretending to be “walking” like the palace guards.

One of my favorite parts of young audience theater happened after the show ends. The actors, including Toto, came back on stage to answer questions. This cast spent a lot of time answering each question thoughtfully and completely.

The Wizard of Oz is a delightful way to introduce your children to live theater. Be sure to catch the production through January 4, 2015. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.marriotttheatre.com.

Disclosure: I attended the press opening. My words and opinions are my own.