PHILADELPHIA, PA — Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman and Cowardly Lion are following the yellow brick road to Philadelphia this holiday season as Arden Children’s Theatre brings a new adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz to the stage in Old City.
The production begins previews Nov. 25, 2026, officially opens Dec. 5 and continues through Jan. 17, 2027, on the Arden Theatre Company’s F. Otto Haas Stage at 40 N. 2nd St.
Adapted and directed by award-winning children’s theater director Whit MacLaughlin, the production marks a milestone for Arden Children’s Theatre: its 50th production since launching in 1998.
The anniversary celebrates nearly three decades of introducing young audiences to live theater, with more than 875,000 children and family members attending Arden Children’s Theatre productions since its inaugural staging of Charlotte’s Web.
A Fresh Journey Down the Yellow Brick Road
Drawing inspiration from L. Frank Baum’s original novel, the new adaptation follows Dorothy and her companions on an imaginative adventure through the Land of Oz, where friendship, courage and discovery shape their journey.
Rather than simply recreating familiar versions of the story, MacLaughlin’s adaptation preserves elements of Baum’s original work while incorporating the theatrical techniques that have become hallmarks of Arden Children’s Theatre.
“We are presenting The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with many of its original features intact, direct from the miraculous imagination of L. Frank Baum,” MacLaughlin said. “We combine that story with the stagecraft that has made the Arden’s Children’s Theatre so well regarded across the country. Audiences will witness for themselves why the story is told over and over again, in families around the world.”
MacLaughlin, an OBIE and Barrymore Award winner, has directed numerous Arden Children’s Theatre productions, including A Year with Frog and Toad, The Snow Queen, Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates and three stagings of Charlotte’s Web.
The production also marks the first time the Arden has brought the story of Oz to its stage.
“We are thrilled to be producing this rendition of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” said Terrence J. Nolen, the Arden’s producing artistic director. “This is the first time we have brought Oz to our stage, and it is fitting that L. Frank Baum’s beloved story is being reimagined by Whit, our own Arden Children’s Theatre wizard.”
Familiar Arden Favorites Join a New Dorothy
Brazil Taylor makes her Arden Children’s Theatre debut as Dorothy, leading a cast that combines familiar performers with new talent.
Taylor previously understudied a role in the Arden’s production of Girl from the North Country and has performed with regional theaters including The Road Company and Music Mountain Theatre.
Four-time Barrymore Award winner Grace Gonglewski returns to the Arden in multiple roles, including Aunt Em, Lacosta, the Witch of the West and the Gatekeeper.
Gonglewski has portrayed 27 roles on Arden stages, with credits ranging from the children’s production Bunnicula to Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and A Moon for the Misbegotten.
The principal cast also includes:
- Adam Howard as the Scarecrow and additional characters.
- Sean Lally as the Tin Woodman and additional characters.
- Kishia Nixon as the Cowardly Lion and additional characters.
- Steven Anthony Wright as the Wizard of Oz, Uncle Henry and additional characters.
The production reunites MacLaughlin with scenic designer David P. Gordon, whose Arden credits include more than 10 children’s theater productions and mainstage productions of Once, Indecent and Sweeney Todd.
The creative team also includes lighting designer Jorge Arroyo, costume designer Jill Keys, sound designer Jordan McCree and stage manager Lyndsey Connolly.
“It’s amazing to have these world-class artists come together to bring these stories to life for families on our stages,” Nolen said.
Celebrating 50 Productions and Nearly Three Decades of Theater
The milestone production reflects Arden Children’s Theatre’s longstanding commitment to making professional theater accessible and engaging for young audiences.
Since presenting Charlotte’s Web in 1998, the company has introduced generations of Philadelphia-area children to live performances, often through imaginative adaptations of familiar literary works.
The anniversary production continues that tradition while welcoming families who may be experiencing live theater together for the first time.
The Arden will also offer weekday student matinees at 10:30 a.m. during the production’s run, excluding Dec. 22 through Jan. 2.
Schools interested in attending can submit group inquiries through the theater.
Special Performances and Accessibility Programs
The production includes several opportunities designed to make theater more accessible to families and audiences with different needs.
On Saturday, Dec. 5, the Arden will host a free Accessibility Open House before the production’s official opening night. Visitors can learn about the theater’s accessibility services and resources without purchasing a performance ticket.
The Arden offers assistive listening devices, sensory processing tools, caption glasses and large-print programs.
Beginning Dec. 21, audiences can reserve wearable smart caption glasses that provide customizable closed captioning during performances.
Two performances will also feature American Sign Language shadow interpretation, with interpreters following the movement of performers onstage:
- Thursday, Jan. 14, 2027, at 10:30 a.m.
- Saturday, Jan. 16, 2027, at 4 p.m.
These offerings are part of the Arden’s broader accessibility initiative, which has earned the theater recognition as a Keystone of Accessibility from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Event Details
- What: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, a new adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s classic novel, presented as Arden Children’s Theatre’s 50th production.
- When: Previews begin Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2026; official opening Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026; performances continue through Sunday, Jan. 17, 2027. Performance times vary by date, with select weekday student matinees at 10:30 a.m.
- Where: Arden Theatre Company, F. Otto Haas Stage, 40 N. 2nd St., Philadelphia, PA 19106.
- Cost/Tickets: Single tickets start at $32, with prices varying by performance. Tickets are available online, by calling 215-922-1122 or at the theater box office.
- More Info: Performance schedules, tickets, accessibility information and school group inquiries are available at https://ardentheatre.org.
For families seeking a holiday outing filled with imagination and adventure, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz offers an opportunity to revisit a beloved story while celebrating a milestone in Philadelphia children’s theater.
With its combination of familiar characters, inventive stagecraft and a message about courage and friendship, the production invites audiences of all ages to discover the magic of Oz together.
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