How did “Wizard of Oz” author Frank Baum came up with the characters of The Wicked Witch, The Wizard or The Emerald City? Local author Evan I. Schwartz knows—The Wicked Witch was based on Baum’s mother-in-law (of course), The Wizard on PT Barnum and Emerald City on the World’s Fair. It’s all in Mr. Schwartz’s new book, “Finding Oz: How L. Frank Baum Discovered the Great American Story.”
He will introduce the book at a screening of the classic film on the big screen (a way many people have never actually seen the film!) at The Ridgefield Playhouse for Movies and the Performing Arts on Friday, May 8 at 7:30 p.m. In addition to hidden clues to what the characters, symbols and events originally meant to the man who created the Land of Oz, Mr. Schwartz will do a Q&A before the screening so that movie goers can have a whole new perspective on the beloved film while they watch it. “And,” says Mr. Schwartz, “it’s a real treat to see the movie on the big screen since so many scenes have been cut to fit the commercial breaks in the TV version.” The event is co-produced by the Ridgefield Library; Books on the Common will be selling the book, “Finding Oz,” which Mr. Schwartz will sign after the screening. Oz character costumes are optional.
“The Wizard of Oz” was released in 1938. Directed by Victor Fleming and starring the young Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley and Frank Morgan, neither the film nor the book has ever lost its appeal. In fact, the citizenry of Ridgefield collectively read the book a few years ago. About Evan I Schwartz’s book, Gregory Maguire (who wrote the book,
“Wicked”) said, “’Finding Oz’ is a guided tour to the invention of that quintessentially American dreamscape, the Land of Oz, written with heart, brains, nerve—and a touch of magic.”
For tickets ($5) and further information about The Ridgefield Playhouse, call the box office at 203-438-5795; tickets may be also purchased online at www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org. The Playhouse is located at 80 East Ridge, parallel to Main Street.
