When I was a little girl The Wizard of Oz film was broadcast yearly usually around Easter and after I got over my terror of the flying monkeys, I was planted in front of the television every year to watch it again and again and again. My elementary school chums and I acted out the story on the playground and I always played the Cowardly Lion. So, you can imagine my delight when I found out that Circa 21 added the stage adaptation to their 2026 season. I didn’t even know there was a stage version. I could not wait to see how live theatre would handle the phantasmic settings, witches on brooms and especially the flying monkeys.
Well, I’m here to say that director Tony Parise and his tech team have created an enchanting production true to the film that includes a huge spiral platform to suggest the funnel cloud that whisks Dorothy to the magical land of Oz along with a gingerbread farmhouse front, dancing apple trees, prancing poppies, and madcap munchkins. What can’t be duplicated onstage is accomplished by projections onto the scrim.
The stage version is so close to the film it’s almost identical except for the scene where the Wicked Witch of the West meets her demise.
Making her Circa 21 debut as Dorothy is Sophie Kaegia and, were Judy Garland still alive, she would have serious competition for the role. Rounding out the quartet of travelers to Oz and their Kansas counterparts are lively and limber Adam Cerny as the Scarecrow, Bobby Becher as the Tin Man, and Jeremy Littlejohn as the Cowardly Lion. Madeline Brennan is the deliciously evil Wicked Witch and Gillian Weatherford, last seen at Circa as Mary Poppins, is the perfectly precious in pink Glinda…and Aunt Em.
The fabulous Bootleggers put together the perfect lead-in to the show with a medley of songs that have taken their inspiration from The Wizard such as Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” and The Wiz’s “Ease on Down the Road.” I was astonished at just how many songs this show has spawned.
So, follow the yellow brick road to Circa 21 for a tornadic production that will have you clicking your heels in delight.
The Wizard of Oz continues at Circa ‘21 Dinner Playhouse, 1828 – 3rd Avenue in Rock Island through September 5th with matinee performances on Wednesdays, evening performances Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays and early Dinner performances on Sundays.
I’m Chris Hicks…break a leg.