[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of Heart to Art Production’s world premiere of Fall Into Oz, an original outdoor theatre experience designed for an intimate audience, where family, friends, and Oz fans of all generations can enjoy this unique, new autumn adventure.
Fall Into Oz: A Whimsical, Heart-Centered Autumn Adventure Blossoms in Woodland Hills.
There is something so magical about live theater when it breaks free from the traditional confines of the dark stage and steps into the open air. The storytelling breathes, shifts with the wind and the intimacy of small audiences. And when it takes place in a setting as enchanting as A Secret Rose Garden in Woodland Hills, the environment itself becomes a living, breathing character.
Heart to Art Productions has given us a magnificent gift with the world premiere of Fall Into Oz. Conceived and written by the visionary Rochelle Perry, with additional writing and sharp direction by Justin Rose, this production is an absolute triumph of community driven, immersive theater. It doesn’t just retell L. Frank Baum’s classic 1900 tale; it propels you directly from the farmhouse in Kansas, swept up in a tornado, and onto the yellow brick road, making you ask yourself if you have the brain, the heart, and the courage to find your way home.
One of the things that makes Fall Into Oz so thoroughly delightful is its structure. This isn’t a passive experience where you sit on a bench and watch characters talk to each other. The brilliant staging choice of limiting the size of the groups released into Oz every half an hour ensures that every single guest—whether a wide-eyed child or a nostalgic adult—becomes an active participant in Dorothy’s quest.
As a sudden “tornado” propels you into the magical Land of Oz, you are guided through a series of interactive, puzzle-solving challenges. The pacing over the 75-minute runtime (which includes a perfectly timed intermission) is remarkably brisk and engaging and keeps everyone really on task and involved!
The physical design of the experience deserves its own standing ovation if you ask me! Production designer David Lvov and scenic painter Jessica York have transformed the secret garden into a vivid, whimsical world. Every nook and cranny of the space is utilized to build the world of Oz, including the Emerald City. Coupled with the exquisite, texture-rich costuming by Tsebahat Fiseha and Kellea Lascano, this landscape feels utterly transportive.
An interactive show lives and dies by its cast’s ability to improvise, hold character, and connect genuinely with an audience. This absolutely brilliant ensemble handles that responsibility effortlessly with energy, humor and grace. The chemistry between the characters is infectious, sprinkling the journey through Oz with hilarious whimsical musings and delightful live interactions. The wonderful and talented actors read the energy of the crowd perfectly, ensuring the children are enchanted and the adults are thoroughly entertained.
To truly appreciate Fall Into Oz, one must look at the origin of Heart to Art Productions itself. Founded by Perry after decades of working in major Hollywood studios, the company was born out of a desire to create a collaborative, safe haven for entertainment professionals facing industry layoffs and the rise of artificial intelligence.
That profound human intentionality bleeds into every second of Fall Into Oz. It is theater with a soul, designed beautifully by a mother who understands exactly how to introduce younger audiences to the timeless wonders of live performance.
If you are looking to start a new, beautiful autumn tradition with your family, this is it.
Fall Into Oz is a sweet, clever, utterly magical and wonderfully performed story that reminds us all of the magic that happens when a community of artists comes together to create something enchanting, with heart that is also incredibly entertaining.
I highly recommend opting for the $40 Wizard Pass, which treats the little ones to a festive goodie bag to collect treats from merchants along the path to the Emerald City.
Grab your tickets, bring your loved ones, and let yourself follow the yellow brick road and remember the wonder of the story and why it still enthralls children today!
Tickets:
https://www.onstage411.com/newsite/show/play_info.asp?show_id=8777
Where:
23444 Oxnard St, Woodland Hills
When:
September 26 – October 25
Saturdays and Sundays 10am-4:30pm
Maximum 12 tickets per time slot:
10am | 10:30am | 11am | 11:30am | 12pm | 12:30pm | 2pm | 2:30pm | 3pm | 3:30pm | 4pm | 4:30pm
The Cast
Dayton Axle, Jillian Brotman, Hannah Marie Campbell, Avery Dixon, Sabrina Ebright, Sue Gisser, Stede Hendricks, Nathan Kowalczyk, Mindy Le, Mikael Mattsson, Paul McCrillis, Dreama O’Neal, Terri Parks, Simon Roger Ristow, Carly Roseman, David Alan Schroeder, Michael Stancliff, and Isabella Thatcher.
The Team
Fall Into Oz is written and conceived by Heart to Art’s Founder and Artistic Director Rochelle Perry, directed by Justin Rose and produced by Heart to Art Productions and Producer Anne Mesa.
Artistic Director/Founder/Writer: Rochelle Perry
Director/Production Manager/Writer: Justin Rose
Producer: Anne Mesa
Stage Manager: Susan Gasparyan
Production Designer: David Lvov
Prop Master/Designer: Sol Seager
Costumer A: Tsebahat Fiseha
Costumer B: Kellea Lascano
Tech Director: Zad Potter
Scenic Painter: Jessica York
Graphics: Maria Vitan
Web Designer: Rolando Monterroso
Publicist: Sandra Kuker-Franco, SANDRA KUKER PR | sjkukerpr@gmail.com