(Chittenango, NY – May 2015) Oz-Stravaganza! 2015 offers a plethora of events in the “Birthplace of Oz” from June 5 to 7 including fireworks, a grand parade, special Oz guests, amusement rides, crafters, vendors, authors, artists, silent auctions, games, live music, costume judging and much more.
For details and event times, visit www.oz-stravaganza.com.
While at Oz-Stravaganza! be sure to attend the 2015 Special Free Programming Friday June 5 and Saturday June 6 at 6:30 p.m. Our guests of honor in two completely different presentations at “Baum’s Opera House” in Oz Park, Chittenango. Join us and Emmy Award-Winning producer, writer John Fricke, Oz-Emcee
Arrive early for the exciting show prequels each evening beginning at 6 p.m.
Friday Evening :
THE SCARECROW OF OZ Centennial Celebration! L. Frank Baum’s ninth Oz Book was published in 1915 and is now one hundred years old. Enjoy that most beloved character in a newly-assembled mélange of film and television clips from 1910 to 1978! Hear memories of her uncle Ray Bolger – MGM’s famous Wizard of Oz movie Scarecrow – from niece CHRISTIANNA RICKARD (author ofRemembering Oz: My Journey With the Scarecrow). Travel a Yellow Brick Road of memories with Munchkin-by-Marriage MYRNA SWENSEN, whose husband CLARENCE played a diminutive soldier in the film.
One Fellow’s WICKED Road to Oz! On the twentieth anniversary of the publication of Wicked – and the launch of his best-selling original Oz fiction series –premier author GREGORY MAGUIRE offers an illustrated tour of his personal journey to acclaim as one of the preeminent writers of our time. Learn about all the Ozziness that happened along the way to Wicked on the printed page and Broadway stage!
Selected Short Subject: THE SOUND OF OZ! NBC-TV affiliate film critic/historian and nationally-syndicated radio reviewer and personality RYAN JAY presents a sneak peek at plans for THE SOUND OF OZ documentary, which he’ll direct. Produced by Aaron Harburg — great-grandson of E. Y. “Yip” Harburg who wrote the lyrics to all the songs in THE WIZARD OF OZ — THE SOUND OF OZ will tell the fascinating saga of the Harburg/Harold Arlen collaboration that gave us “Over the Rainbow,” “We’re Off to See the Wizard,” “If I Only Had a Brain,” Ding-Dong! the Witch is Dead” and so many others.
Saturday Evening:
Opening Remarks from ROGER and CHARLENE BAUM The great-grandson of L. Frank Baum and his wife greet you and discuss his latest books, as he continues the tradition of his renowned ancestor.
RETURN TO RETURN TO OZ with EMMA (PRINCESS OZMA) RIDLEY! What a coup! On the thirtieth anniversary of Disney’s 1985 film, Return to Oz, OZ-STRAVAGANZA! and special guest RYAN JAY team up to present EMMA RIDLEY, one of the stars of that motion picture! This marks her first-ever appearance at an Oz event; don’t miss her account of the making of that Ozzy Cult Classic! And revel in RYAN’S behind-the-scenes back-story and visual tour of the creative peaks of that production!
How Wonderful THE WIZ – And Its Lion Supreme! In this fortieth anniversary year of Broadway’s rip-roarin’-and-rockin’ stage musical, THE WIZ, theater legend KEN PAGE reviews his stint as The Cowardly Lion – both in that show and in other OZ theatrical spectaculars! MR. PAGE is OZ-STRAVAGANZA! Grand Marshall for 2015 and will also recount tales of his participation as “Oogie Boogie” in THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, as “Max” in DREAMGIRLS, and in such Broadway starring roles as “Old Deuteronomy” in CATS and in the original cast of AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’. Featuring exclusive video of THE WIZ cast members as they performed earlier in 2015 in NYC for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS!)