Photos by Barry Goyette
Most people have likely seen the 1939 movie classic Wizard of Oz, which has evolved into a childhood viewing rite of passage for generations. Some fans watch the film repeatedly and can recite dialogue and music by heart.
We all know the tale of Dorothy and Toto. And their three companions. And the flying monkeys. And the wicked witches. And that guy behind the curtain. And the desire to just go home. The movie is based on L. Frank Baum’s children’s novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, first published in 1900 and remarkably still available in print.
Now Drew Silvaggio, artistic director for Civic Ballet of San Luis Obispo and pretty much a creative tornado in his own right, has decided that we’re not in Kansas anymore, at least not artistically.
Silvaggio has taken Baum’s book and transformed it into an original ballet, complete with jazz orchestra. The result is The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, on stage at the Performing Arts Center SLO April 18-19.
I kept telling myself throughout the process that I wanted to give this more of a heart, more of an understanding that this little girl is trying to get home.”—Drew Silvaggio
The dancers will share the stage with an 11-piece jazz orchestra under the direction of Dave Becker from Cuesta College, while spotlighting the singing voices of Damon Castillo and Inga Swearingen, performing standards with a 1930s flavor.
The source material seems an interesting choice for Silvaggio, perhaps best known locally for his annual sold-out performances of The Nutcracker. The veteran dancer admits that he’s only seen the classic movie once (with the Pink Floyd soundtrack playing) and is not a particular fan of the Broadway musical and recent box office movie smash Wicked.
So why journey down the Yellow Brick Road? For Silvaggio, it’s partly a business decision—choosing something that will draw people into the Performing Arts Center. But mostly it’s the creative challenge.
“I love adapting these stories and giving people the underside of the story. That’s prime for me,” Silvaggio says. “Having Dave Becker and an 11-piece orchestra playing old-timey made me think this adaptation could work.
“I kept telling myself throughout the process that I wanted to give this more of a heart, more of an understanding that this little girl is trying to get home.”
Silvaggio says that he’s “definitely doing the 1900 book” as opposed to the movie version. For example, Baum provided readers with more of an origin story for the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Man (the Tin Woodsman in the book) and that inspired some of the ballet’s artistic choices.
Performances of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz are scheduled Friday, April 18 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, April 19 at 2 p.m. Tickets are available online.
Unlike Dorothy, however, Silvaggio will not be heading home. Not just yet. He is serving as choreographer for Opera San Luis Obispo’s forthcoming production of—you guessed it—The Wizard of Oz, based on the 1939 film classic.