The St. Louis Symphony Brings the Score of “The Wizard of Oz,” to Life

The Wizard of Oz has followed the Yellow Brick Road straight (winding, actually) into our nostalgic, movie-loving hearts. It’s been a staple of the American cultural diet for over 70 years, when Dorothy, with her dog Toto in tow, first clicked her famous heels to a homesick mantra. So, repeat after me:  “There’s no place like the Symphony…there’s no place like the Symphony.” On Friday, Saturday—and a special Sunday matinee—the classic 1939 musical will be projected on a giant screen at Powell Symphony Hall, where live musicians will transform the film into a sort of audio 3-D experience. And while you sit in front of the giant screen, keep these fun facts in the back of your mind: None of the Munchkins did their own singing. Those little vocals were harmonized by three regular-sized men, who sang slowly, so that when the tape was sped up the words would sound clear.  There are a couple of St. Louis connections to this 1939 masterpiece. Buddy Ebsen—signed to be in the movie (first as the Scarecrow, then the Tin Woodman)—has a star on Delmar’s Walk of Fame, which seals his local roots. The late St. Louisan Mickey Caroll played a Munchkin, and was one of the longest-living cast members.  Margaret Hamilton, who rode a mean broom as the Wicked Witch of the West, reprised her role in a mid-‘70s production of Wizard at the Muny. (As a footnote, the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman and Lion were portrayed by the Hudson Brothers, who were pop celebrities back in the Me Decade. That strikes me as akin to casting Boys II Men as the Sharks in West Side Story.)  The music is an event in itself—particularly with the Symphony adding layers of richness to what is already a treasure of a score. Harold Arlen’s “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” sung wistfully—and famously—by Judy Garland as Dorothy is matched beautifully to the surreal lighting and rustic set design. 

Events such as The Wizard of Oz are helping to change the Symphony’s reputation from a sophisticated destination for the suit-and-tie crowd to a family-friendly attraction. Get ready to see the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman and Cowardly Lion in a capacity that is not only larger than life, but louder than life, with the beloved soundtrack reaching new heights—and perhaps even some new fans (as if anybody has somehow managed to miss this most famous of all musicals). The Wizard of Oz will melt your heart, even as you watch the Wicked Witch have a serious, well-deserved meltdown. We’ve never gotten over that rainbow—and that’s a good thing.  Here’s your chance to see—and hear—this infinitely watchable classic in a brand-new way.  It will warm your heart, soothe your brain and give you the courage to believe that the ostensibly stuffy Symphony can have family-wide appeal. Even as Dorothy’s Kansan home lifts into the sky and spins mercilessly in the stormy weather, the prodigious talent of the St. Louis Symphony promises to bring down the house.

The St. Louis Symphony performs the score to The Wizard of Oz October 26 & 27 at 7 p.m., and October 28 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $30-$65. For more information, visit slso.org or call 314-534-1700.