Photo Credit: The Straz Center
This week I had a fun local adventure attending the opening night of the Wizard of Oz at the Straz Center in Tampa. Thanks to my relationship with Tampa Bay Bloggers, I received complimentary tickets from the Straz Center.
I have loved the Wizard of Oz since I was a child. I used to look forward to the network airing of the movie every year. Of course that was long before owning movies on VHS and DVD was a thing. I loved the bright colors and the songs, but more importantly I loved the adventure and the journey as Dorothy and her friends traveled to Oz.
To see the play in living color was such a nostalgic experience. The vibrant colors on the set and the costumes were complete perfection. The special effects truly transported us into this adventure as if we were a part of Dorothy’s crew too. I loved everything about the experience. It even dredged up a forgotten memory of painting the yellow brick road with Oz in the distance in an oil painting with my father. It doesn’t matter how long it’s been since I’ve seen the movie, I was able to sing just about every word of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
Photo Credit: The Straz Center
It’s funny how life has come full circle. Here I am as an adult, seeking adventure and setting out to find some of the very same things as the characters of the Wizard of Oz. The scarecrow seeks a brain just as I travel in hopes that I’ll gain knowledge and insight from the people and cultures I encounter. The Tin Man seeks a heart just as I’m still in search of not only romantic love, but in search of experiencing those things that speak to my heart. The Lion seeks courage just as I seek to push my limits and boundaries. With every new adventure I gain a bit more courage. Dorothy just wants desperately to go back home. While I seek to leave my home and explore as much as I can, I’m discovering along the way that home is truly where your heart is. It’s not just about a physical location.
I really enjoyed this play and I didn’t expect it to evoke such strong emotions for me. I hope you get a chance to see it while it’s here through this Sunday, July 17th. If it happens to be playing in your city, do yourself the favor and take that adventure to Oz.
P.S. If you’re a PokemonGo player the Straz Center is lit!!
No Comments