One of the first movies I fell in love with as a child was the 1939 production of “The Wizard of Oz.” I never lost my love for this musical fantasy, so the Alpha Psi Omega production of “Create Your Own Oz” had a lot to live up to if I was going to enjoy.

Dorothy, played by Kalee Broussard, runs outside the front of her house in confusion when she first lands in Oz due to an unexpected tornado. She searches for her aunt, uncle and Toto in the mist of confusion. Not noticing her house landed on top of an evil witch, the fate of Dorothy changes drastically from her normal farm life she lived in Kansas. The Lion’s Roar / William Schmidt

Due to the interactive element of the play which involved the audience having control over the action of the story, I was uneasy on how everything would come off. This uneasiness did not last for long. 

Though it was strange having the narrator yell pause throughout the play, from the moment that we, the audience, were able to transform Toto from a dog to a goat, I was lost in my own Oz. 

Along with being able to participate in the production, a few modern touches were added. One of the unexpected changes to the source material was the characterization of Glinda as a Diva. Even with the modern adaptation of a Diva replacing the conservative role of Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, I was glad to see the writer could put some modern personality into the play. Though I am sometimes set in my ways when it comes to original productions such as “The Producers” and “The Three Musketeers,” I believe the modern twist made the production all its own and allowed it to be placed on a different platform from the original. 

Glinda the Good Witch of the North, played by Olivia Matte,
tells Dorothy to follow The Yellow Brick Road and to beware of Mumbi,
The Wicked Witch of the West played by Chelsea Krause as she seeks
out The Great Wizard of Oz played by Veronica Gutierrez.
Glinda’s Entourage and Dorothy’s pet goat Toto, played by Ned Kelsey,
tremble in fear at what Dorothy may encounter along her
journey through Oz. The Lion’s Roar / William Schmidt

Along with an incredible acting job from the entire cast, one of the actresses astonished me with how well she was able to continue to adapt to the audience’s choices as well as maintain her character as a young child chimed in during the climax of the play. 

After the bucket of water was thrown on Mumbi, the Wicked Witch of the West played by Chelsea Krause, the audience was able to choose a fate that was not death, and Mumbi would have to pay for her crimes.

The narrator, played by Veronica Gutierrez, was telling the audience throughout the play that if they saw the wicked witch that they should call her ugly. As the narrator was enticing the audience to choose the wicked witch’s fate and call her ugly, a young girl on the front row kept calling her pretty. Krause stayed in character, responded to the girl and kept the play going without a hitch. Along with the audience, I was laughing at the once in a lifetime production that you had to be there to experience.

The narrator let the audience choose the fate of Dorothy, and I left the show wishing I had more time to spend enchanted in Oz.  

I am thankful James Winter was able to direct the play written by Tommy Jamerson who also wrote the “Alice the Brave” production last year. I hope to see similar productions in the future. 

Dorothy and her newfound friends during her travels along The Yellow Brick Road tremble as they first meet The Wizard of Oz. The Lion’s Roar / William Schmidt