Review By Cal Ortiz, Fifth Grader, Age 11
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 stars)
I saw “The Wizard of Oz” at Children’s Theatre Company, and it was awesome. It felt like I got dropped right into Oz with Dorothy and Toto.
One of the coolest parts was when everything changed from black and white into bright colors. It looked magical, like the movie came to life on stage.
My favorite character was the Scarecrow (played by Dean Holt) because he was super funny and moved in ways that made everybody laugh. I also really liked the Cowardly Lion (played by Reed Sigmund) because he acted scared all the time, but he was still brave when it mattered.
And the Wicked Witch? She was kind of scary, in a good way. The actress who played the Wicked Witch (Autumn Ness) did such a good job playing her that little kids in the audience were yelling when she came on stage.
The music was amazing too. Everybody knows songs like “Over the Rainbow,” and hearing them live made the show feel extra special.
One of the best parts was Toto because it was a real dog on stage. Every time Toto ran around, the audience got excited. I kept wondering if the dog was going to do something funny next.
The sets and costumes were huge and colorful. The Yellow Brick Road looked really cool, and the Emerald City scenes were probably my favorite because everything sparkled green.
I also liked how the show had funny moments, exciting moments, and some emotional moments too. Dorothy (played by Aniya Bostick) and her friends all wanted something different, but they learned they already had what they needed inside themselves. That was a really good message.
The actors worked really well together, and it felt like everybody on stage was having fun. You could tell the audience loved it because people clapped a lot after the songs.
This is one of the coolest plays I’ve seen at Children’s Theatre Company, and I would definitely watch it again. If you like adventure, music, funny characters, magic, and dogs, you should go see this show.
DETAILS — Follow the Yellow Brick Road to Oz 💛
Show: The Wizard of Oz
When: April 21–June 14, 2026
Where: Children’s Theatre Company, UnitedHealth Group Stage
2400 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55404
⏰ Run Time: 2 hours, with one 15-minute intermission (Perfect time to grab a snack and talk about your favorite character)
Recommended Audience: Best for all ages (Lap passes available for children 3 and under)
🐶 Special Feature: Toto is played by a real dog on stage
🎵 Includes Songs You Know and Love: “Over the Rainbow,” “We’re Off to See the Wizard,” and more classic songs from the movie.
🎟️ Tickets: Starting at $25
Get tickets at childrenstheatre.org/
🌪️ Pro Tip: Perfect for families who love adventure, music, magical stage effects, funny characters, and stories about friendship and courage.
🌈 Go somewhere over the rainbow and experience the magic of Oz with your family. ✨
