Kennedy Theatre will open its 2026-27 season with a new and imaginative production of the film classic, “The Wizard of Oz,” debuting today (Oct. 23) and running on select dates through Oct. 31 at Kennedy Theatre.
Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays.
Jack Romans, an MFA degree candidate, is directing this Theatre for Young Audiences musical which reimagines the Oz as a world of discarded objects. Targeting a young audience, the musical is inspired by the resourcefulness of childhood imagination, where everyday materials are transformed into the Yellow Brick Road, the Emerald City, and the classic characters audiences have adored for generations.
This outing follows the timeless journey of Dorothy, a native of Kansas, and her pet dog Toto, and the familiar companions she meets along the way on the Yellow Brick Road.
The story underplays the glitzy witches of recent cinematic endeavors, but never forgets the core values we seek in our lives – themes of courage, compassion, wisdom and the impordtantce of home.
Blending familiar songs, inventive theatrical design, and playful visual storytelling, this fresh interpretation invites children and adults alike to rediscover the wonder of Oz while celebrating creativity, sustainability, and the magic that emerges when ordinary objects are seen through extraordinary eyes.
And this production brings puppetry to the limelight, with an Oz experience with a contemporary twist: issues of landfills and waste. You’re not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy.
While recent adaptations have explored the untold stories of Oz’s witches, Kennedy Theatre returns to the timeless journey of Dorothy, Toto, and the companions she meets along the way—a story that continues to remind audiences that courage, compassion, wisdom, and undeniable magnet of home, sentiments often found within ourselves.
L. Frank Baum’s enduring book was adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company, and the story is based on the classic motion picture owned by Turner Entertainment Company.
“Everyone deserves quality art, and everything has the potential to become part of it. Our Land(fill) of Oz transforms discarded materials into Dorothy’s adventure, inviting audiences of all ages to wonder, reimagine, and see new possibilities in the world around them,” director Romans said in a statement.
The cast features Ayami Kinoshita as Dorothy, who manipulates Toto (puppet); Scarecrow Xiamara Gallant Ortiz (puppeteer), Tinman Cleonice Hamm (puppeteer), and Cowardly Lion (Kekainalu Kaawa, puppeteer).
Blending familiar songs, inventive theatrical design, and playful visual storytelling, this fresh interpretation invites children and adults alike to rediscover the wonder of Oz while celebrating creativity, sustainability, and the magic that emerges when ordinary objects are seen through extraordinary eyes.
“Everyone deserves quality art, and everything has the potential to become part of it. Our Land(fill) of Oz transforms discarded materials into Dorothy’s adventure, inviting audiences of all ages to wonder, reimagine, and see new possibilities in the world around them,” director Romans said in a statement.
The show is open to kids 5 and older, but there are mild moments of peril and peril, depictions of a witch, and stylized fantasy violence.
Tickets: $9 for UH Manoa students with valid ID, $15 for youths and non-UHM students, $22 for UH faculty, staff, military, and seniors, and $25 for adults; available at the Kennedy box office from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays, and one-hour prior to curtain on performance days.
Box office phone: (808) 956-7655 …
‘Hamilton’ still happening…
The top 10 grossing shows for the week ending on Oct. 18:
1 –”Hamilton,” $2,777 million
2—”The Lion King,” $2,017 million
3—”Other Desert Cities,” $1,817 million
4— “MJ,” $1,760 million
5—”Oh, Mary!,” $1,533 million
6 –”Wicked,” $1,425 million
7—“The Lost Boys,” $1,295 million
8—”890,” $1,268 million
9—”A Few Good Men,” $1,246 million
10—”Harry Potter and The Cursed Child,” $1,226 million
The whole list of shows, courtesy the Broadway League:
And that’s Show Biz…