Wizard of Oz: A Classical Piece

IN THIS SCENE

In this scene, we follow the yellow brick road back to where it all began—The Wizard of Oz. Though the memories may be hazy, the impressions left behind are anything but forgettable. From the iconic rainbow in the sky to the house that toppled onto Nessarose, k retraces the technical magic of the stage and the emotional traces of a musical that lingered more through song than storyline. Alongside glimpses from Wicked and the quiet symbolism behind “Over the Rainbow,” this scene isn’t just about reliving a show—it’s about rediscovering the beauty in the details we often overlook.

where the song lingers and the rainbow leads home…

Over the rainbow, we're told there's a pot of gold waiting for us. But in the song “Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz, we’re introduced to the beauty of bluebirds flying through the sky, and the serenity of nature itself—more precious than any pot of gold. Over the Rainbow was one of my favorite childhood songs that my mother would sing to me, creating a memory that stays with me. However, while the song has stuck, The Wizard of Oz musical itself isn’t one that had a major impact on my life. I remember watching it for the first time when I was around 10 years old in Australia, long before I knew anything about Wicked.

But here I am, ready to connect both timelines and explore the overlooked details in the story that often go unnoticed. The timeline of these musicals is one of my favorite things about them—it has such a beautiful appeal, giving the audience two sides of the same coin. If you’re interested, you can find all the credits, resources, and information about Wicked in my previous blog post.

Now, with that in mind—let's follow the yellow brick road and take a journey into Oz, shall we?

*people within the productions are as follows*

Broadway Full Cast: 

The Scarecrow: Fred Stone

The Tin Woodman: David C. Montgomery

Dorothy Gale: Anna Lughlin

The Cowardly Lion: Charles W. Meyers

The Wizard of Oz: John Slavin

Tryxie Tryfle: Bessie Wynn

Sir Dashemoff Daily: Helen Byron

Pastoria II: Arthur Hill

Broadway Crew:

Book: L. Frank Baum

Music: Paul Tietjens

Lyrics: L. Frank Baum

Additional Music and Lyrics: A/ Baldwin Sloane, Nathaniel D. Mann, and various vaudeville songwriters

Directors: Julian Mitchell & Frank L. Perley

Choreographer: Julian Mitchell

Producers: Fred R. Hamlin & Frank L. Baum (unofficial)

Set and Costume Design: Edward A. Morange, and several other notable artists.

The Broadway sensation first debuted on January 21st, 1903, at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. While most people imagine seeing musicals like this in the heart of NYC, I watched The Wizard of Oz in Melbourne, Australia. I honestly don’t remember which theatre it was, but I do remember buying my favorite character’s doll—Toto the dog. He ended up being torn apart by my real dogs, of course, but I think I still have the collar with the tag tucked away somewhere safe.

I still have pictures from that day—walking into the theatre, holding the merch, flipping through the program book. The photos remember more than I do. Maybe it's because time has blurred the edges, or maybe because not every show sticks the same way. It's strange though—I can vividly recall a musical I saw when I was just two years old, but somehow this one, from when I was ten, feels more distant.

years old, but somehow this one, from when I was ten, feels more distant.

Even so, I’ve rewatched parts of the musical online, and the storyline has stayed with me. The full experience might be hazy, but a few moments from the stage stuck—and those are the ones I’ll dive into next. Let’s get into it.

The Wizard of Oz—the origin story of Wicked. Honestly, it still doesn’t make sense to me either. I always thought it came after Wicked, especially since Wicked introduces us to the characters with a twist—painting the Wicked Witch of the West as the villain through a different lens. But maybe that’s the magic of it: sometimes it's easier to start with the present and understand the past later.

When I try to recall the original musical, only a few moments come clearly to mind: the rainbow in the sky, the yellow brick road, and the flying house that fell on Nessarose. These weren’t just story beats—they were technical marvels. The stage effects made each of those scenes feel like they had jumped straight out of a movie. The effort and craft behind them stayed with me.

What struck me the most was the moment the house landed on Nessarose. I remember sitting near the front of the stage when, out of nowhere, a house with a pair of legs beneath it seemed to crash down beside me. It didn’t just roll in from the wings—it felt like it had been swept up in a tornado and dropped with impact. Maybe it was just my childhood imagination running wild, but in that moment, I was completely taken in.

The plot, as much as I remember, had all the makings of a classic tale—teamwork, courage, good versus evil. Or at least, what we’re told is good. But were they really doing good? That’s a question Wicked dares to ask. So now, let’s shift our gaze and step into the world of Wicked, where everything we thought we knew begins to twist.

If you paid close attention during the Wicked movie (or watched it four times like I did), you might have caught a few hidden details not everyone notices. At the start of the film, right after the flying monkeys burst onto the scene, we get a glimpse of the Emerald City—and walking down the yellow brick road, you can actually spot Dorothy and her crew making their way toward it. My guess? They were being sent to throw water on the witch. Maybe that’s why I always thought Wicked came first—it introduces us to characters from The Wizard of Oz midway through, and we get to see moments like the Scarecrow’s creation, the Lion’s backstory, and the moment Dorothy finds the red shoes. The timeline feels upside-down, but somehow, it works.

What’s always confused me, though, is the connection between the Wicked Witch in Wicked and the one in The Wizard of Oz. In Wicked, Elphaba is shown as a misunderstood girl—maybe because we see her young, with hope and heart. But in The Wizard of Oz, the same character is painted as nothing more than a terrifying villain. The contrast is striking. The same scenes appear in both stories, but they carry totally different meanings. The plotlines technically align—but emotionally? It’s a completely different story.

Maybe that’s why this musical never fully stuck with me—it wasn’t the story, but the songs. Songs that became quiet lullabies, gentle reminders that life isn’t just about chasing the rainbow’s end, but about noticing everything along the way. The rainbow isn’t the only thing that makes the sky beautiful; it’s the clouds, the light, the space around it—all playing a part in the magic we see.

Someday, I hope to rewatch The Wizard of Oz—to take it all in with fresh eyes. To see the story unfold again, this time catching the details I missed, and understanding the heart behind every moment on stage.

I hope the readers are able to enjoy reading my blog post, as much as I was able to enjoy making it. 

And with that, the curtains fall. Until the next act–k’s curtain call.

resources

“‘The Wizard of Oz’ from 1902 to 2016.” Stratford Festival Reviews, 1 Dec. 2016, stratfordfestivalreviews.com/blog/2016/12/01/the-wizard-of-oz-from-1902-to-2016/.

“The Wizard of Oz (1902 Musical).” Wikipedia, 22 Sept. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wizard_of_Oz_(1902_musical).

“The Wizard of Oz (2011 Musical).” Wikipedia, 3 Apr. 2022, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wizard_of_Oz_(2011_musical).

“The Wizard of Oz Original Broadway Musical Cast 1903 | Broadway World.” Broadwayworld.com, 2025, www.broadwayworld.com/shows/The-Wizard-of-Oz-7896/cast. Accessed 8 May 2025.