Last night, I had the pleasure of attending opening night for The Wizard of Oz at Derby Dinner Playhouse. If you’ve never been to Derby Dinner, you are missing out on a local treasure. This dinner theater establishment has flourished in Kentuckiana for over 35 years. With delicious food and exceptional performances, Derby Dinner provides a fun-filled night out for all ages; furthermore, when the play is The Wizard of Oz, the whole family will surely be entertained!
Of course, dinner and dessert were tasty as per usual. The mashed potatoes were particularly scrumptious. My only complaint about the food is that sweet tea is not among the drinks offered.
Before the play, The Footnotes performed songs from other musicals with connections to The Wizard of Oz. Armed with hits from Wicked and The Wiz, The Footnotes provided excellent pre-show entertainment.
As for the play, Derby Dinner never ceases to amaze me with the caliber of their performances. I had very high expectations for this play because I am a huge fan of the movie. Derby Dinner did not disappoint. Cami Glauser was everything a fan of the Wizard of Oz could hope for in a portrayal of Dorothy. She was childlike and energetic, and her rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” was better than any rendition I’ve heard on American Idol. Tyler Bliss, Matthew Brennan, and Paul Kerr gave endearing performances as the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion, and, when they had to say goodbye to Dorothy, I found tears in my eyes. The rest of the cast provided magnificent performances, and the play followed the beloved musical to a tee.
I would definitely recommend this play to anyone looking for a delightful night out for the whole family.
The Wizard of Oz runs through August 18th with evening performances throughout the week and matinee performances on Wednesdays and Sundays. Ticket prices range from 31 to 44 dollars. For more information, visit www.derbydinner.com.
