Not in Kansas anymore
Wizard of Oz characters featured at local holiday yard
The beloved characters of the Wizard of OZ were out and about in Salem Saturday for a special photo shoot and a meet and greet at Courtyard Square ahead of their arrival on stage at the Salem Community Theatre for four nights only from Thursday through Sunday. Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, the Wizard of Oz himself, and the Wicked Witch of the West’s chief flying monkey took a ride on the Salem Historical Society’s Quaker Trolley to take photos with some spooky counterparts at an Oz themed display in “Baker’s Cemetery” on Buckeye Circle. Shown from left are the Tin Man portrayed by Joe Shipbaugh, the Scarecrow portrayed by Dan Haueter, the great Wizard of Oz portrayed by Randy Kerr, Dorothy portrayed by Olivia Tranovich, and the Cowardly Lion portrayed by Phillip Davis. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)
Shown is Dorothy portrayed by Olivia Tranovich. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)
Shown is the Cowardly Lion portrayed by Phillip Davis. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)
Shown is the Scarecrow portrayed by Dan Haueter. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)
Shown is the Tin Man portrayed by Joe Shipbaugh. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)
Shown is Jacob Capaldi, who will portray the Wicked Witch’s chief flying monkey. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)
The beloved characters of the Wizard of OZ were out and about in Salem Saturday for a special photo shoot and a meet and greet at Courtyard Square ahead of their arrival on stage at the Salem Community Theatre for four nights only from Thursday through Sunday. Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, the Wizard of Oz himself, and the Wicked Witch of the West’s chief flying monkey took a ride on the Salem Historical Society’s Quaker Trolley to take photos with some spooky counterparts at an Oz themed display in “Baker’s Cemetery” on Buckeye Circle. Shown from left are the Tin Man portrayed by Joe Shipbaugh, the Scarecrow portrayed by Dan Haueter, the great Wizard of Oz portrayed by Randy Kerr, Dorothy portrayed by Olivia Tranovich, and the Cowardly Lion portrayed by Phillip Davis. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)
Shown is Dorothy portrayed by Olivia Tranovich. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)
Shown is the Cowardly Lion portrayed by Phillip Davis. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)
Shown is the Scarecrow portrayed by Dan Haueter. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)
Shown is the Tin Man portrayed by Joe Shipbaugh. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)
Shown is Jacob Capaldi, who will portray the Wicked Witch’s chief flying monkey. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)
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SALEM -- Dorothy, the scarecrow, the tin man, the cowardly lion, and the Wizard of Oz himself are stepping off the silver screen and walking down the yellow-brick road to the Salem Community Theatre this week.
The beloved characters of the Wizard of Oz were out and about in Salem Saturday for a special photo shoot and a meet-and-greet at Courtyard Square ahead of their arrival on stage at the Salem Community Theatre for four nights only from Thursday through Sunday. Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, the Wizard of Oz himself, and the Wicked Witch of the West's chief flying monkey took a ride on the Salem Historical Society's Quaker Trolley to take photos with some spooky counterparts at an Oz themed display in "Baker's Cemetery" on Buckeye Circle.
Kathleen Lassiter, the theatre's board vice president, said ahead of the photo shoot that the inclusion of skeletal versions of the Wizard of Oz's heroes, menaced by the Wicked Witch of the West and her flying monkey, in the community spanning Halloween display at the same time the theatre is preparing to kick off its 50th season with a production of the Wizard of Oz is a happy coincidence. She explained that when the board was planning the 2026-2027 theatre season they had decided to open with the Wizard of Oz, as it was a classic story anyone could enjoy and had been many people's first theatre experience.
"We wanted to be sure to touch on some of the classics that people remember and love," Lassiter said.
Lassiter said the theatre's production of the Wizard of Oz is using the Royal Shakespeare Company version of the musical which debuted at London's Barbican Centre in 1987. She explained that the show is adapted from the screenplay of the 1939 film rather than L. Frank Baum's original novels and closely mirrors the plot and music of the film.
The show begins Thursday at 7 p.m., with performances Friday and Saturday also beginning at 7 p.m. The final performance on Sunday will begin at 2 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased online through the Salem Community Theatre's website at www.salemcommunitytheatre.org. The box office opens an hour prior to showtime, while the theatre doors open half an hour prior to showtime. Any large groups should plan to arrive early to ensure they can be seated together as all tickets will be general admission.
After Dorothy returns to Kansas, the theatre's 2026-2027 season will continue with six more shows beginning with Alice in Wonderland Oct. 22-25. The season will then continue with the theatre's annual production of A Christmas Carol for the holiday season from Dec. 10-13, High School Musical Jr. Feb. 4-7, Fiddler on the Roof April 1-4, and Anything Goes June 3-6. The season will conclude with a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Aug. 5-8, 50 years after the same show concluded the Community Theatre's inaugural 1977-1978 season.