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I was thrilled to be able to spend Wednesday evening with my 5 year old daughter, Clara at The Wizard of Oz at the National Theatre. It was the tour’s second night in DC and it was a completely magical adventure to Oz! Clara has been in a bit of an Oz craze ever since we visited The Wizard of Oz themed playground at Watkins Regional Park a few months ago. When we got home from the playground she immediately wanted to see the movie and has watched the all-time classic starring Judy Garland several more times since then. So, it was really special to see The Wizard of Oz on stage in this new adaptation of the of the popular MGM screenplay.

We were enthralled right from the start of the show. My daughter especially loved the live dog playing Toto and it was evident he was a favorite for many people with all sighing coming from the audience! The stage set and costumes were impressive! Glinda the good witch had the most amazing sparkly dress. My daughter is still talking about it! The performance used a lot of special effects like projections, strobe lights, smoke, haze, and loud noises. The song and dance numbers were all very entertaining and had the audience “oohhhing and aahhhing”.

Justin G. Nelson as Mayor of Munchkinland, Rachel Womble as Glinda and Sarah Lasko as Dorothy and Company in “Ding-Dong! The Witch is Dead” in The Wizard of Oz at the National Theatre May 3-15. www.thenationaldc.com © Daniel A. Swalec

I think it is neat that a local actor stars as Dorothy. Sarah Lasko is a University of Maryland and Rockville High School graduate and she most recently appeared at Imagination Stage. Her performance was outstanding!

I definitely recommend the show for kids ages 5 and older. There are some witch scenes that might scare the more sensitive younger kids. It’s the perfect show to enjoy as a family because it’s a story that appeals to all ages and it’s fun! I absolutely love theater dates with my oldest daughter and this one was an extra special treat!

Aaron Fried as Lion, Jay McGill as Tin Man, Morgan Reynolds as Scarecrow and Sarah Lasko as Dorothy in “We’re Off to Meet the Wizard” in The Wizard of Oz at the National Theatre May 3–15. www.thenationaldc.com © Daniel A. Swalec

Hurry and catch a show if you can, it’s only in DC through May 15. Tickets for The Wizard of Oz start at $48, plus applicable service charges, and are available at the National Theatre box office, online at TheNationalDC.org, or by calling (800)-514-3849. A day of performance lottery for a limited number of best available tickets at $25 each cash only will be held at the theater two hours before each performance.