The Wizard of Oz at Riverside promises unique and immersive experience to a magical land
By Richard Alblas
For the first time in its 26-year history, Riverside Center for the Performing Arts in Fredericksburg will bring The Wizard of Oz to its stage. From May 22 through July 14, visitors are treated to L. Frank Baum’s classic tale based on the original 1939 classic starring Judy Garland as Dorothy. But it’s not just another stage adaptation, promises Director Patrick A’Hearn. When Dorothy clicks her heels, the audience is in for a magical trip and an immersive experience.
“I want people to walk away after the performance and say: Wow, this was as good as it is on Broadway,” A’Hearn said. “This performance will be a unique experience.”
Preparations for the show began well over a year ago, and the impressive set, complete with yellow brick road, is currently under construction.
“When people think about The Wizard of Oz and live theater, they often think about children’s theater, but that’s not the case here,” A’Hearn, who is also CEO of Riverside, said. “This performance is based on the 1939 film with Judy Garland.”
And when A’Hearn promises “an immersive experience”, he’s not kidding.
“The set we have built will reach into the first two rows of the theater,” the Director explained. “We will lose about thirty seats doing so, but the experience for theatergoers will truly be an immersive one,” he said.
Pulling out all the stops to provide attendees with an unforgettable experience is nothing new for A’Hearn.
“I approach every show the same way,” he said. “I want to put on the best show I possibly can. It’s a Broadway show, without the Broadway budget.”
As a matter of fact, if it’s up to A’Hearn, this stage adaptation of The Wizard of Oz will have folks talking from Richmond to D.C and even beyond the borders of Virginia.
“I am convinced that we will be able to create the best Wizard of Oz performance this region has ever seen. That’s my promise. It’s up to folks to come see it for themselves.”
For A’Hearn, who this year marks his fourteenth season as a member of the Riverside Center management staff, there’s something deeper, something more profound about the work he does, not just with The Wizard of Oz, but with all the performances he’s involved in.
“Live theater is so important for the well-being of a community,” he said. “It’s vital. Many kids are glued to their devices and the notion of live theater isn’t something they are familiar with. But it’s a world that has so much joy and so much excitement. I feel it’s also my task to plant the seed for the next generation of theater lovers and theater makers.”
He already sees that in the cast for The Wizard of Oz, which consists of 20 adults and 10 children.
“Our cast is tremendously talented,” A’Hearn said. “We have actors from D.C and from New York. And when I direct the kids, who play the Munchkins, I see how much joy they have on stage. I can’t stress how important it is to make sure children are involved in live theater. They are the future.”
Directing The Wizard of Oz for A’Hearn makes things almost come full circle. He has fond memories growing up, and immersing himself into the adventures Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Woodman and the Wicked Witch of the West.
“For me, The Wizard of Oz reminds me of family. It reminds me how we got together, and we would all be drawn into that wonderful world, together. There’s a nostalgic element to this story that I think many can relate to. And now, as Director, I have found a way to share that feeling and to give back.”
That “giving back” is vital in how A’Hearn approaches his craft. He’s passionate about what he does, and he fully understands its potential.
“Live theater, to me, represents so much more than just a performance on stage. It’s meant to touch lives. It’s meant to inspire us. And that’s what I aim to do with The Wizard of Oz. I want to create something wonderful, incredible, and meaningful. Because in the end, if you want to do something as big as this, you have to do it right.”
For more information about the upcoming Wizard of Oz performances, ticket prices and options, and showtimes, please visit the Riverside Center for the Performing Arts website.
