Insider's Guide to the 2026 Mountain Play: The Wizard of Oz

One of Marin County's most beloved and unique events is the famous Mountain Play — an outdoor theatre experience high on the slopes of Mt. Tamalpais that's been going strong for over a century! After a hiatus in 2025, this year the Mountain Play is back for its 112th season with the beloved classic The Wizard of Oz.

This adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s timeless tale, in which young Dorothy Gale travels from Kansas over the rainbow to the magical Land of Oz, features the iconic musical score from the MGM film and continues to thrill audiences of all ages. This production features familiar musical gems like “Over the Rainbow,” “We’re Off to See the Wizard” and “If I Only Had a Brain”. You can even sing along at a special "Sing-along Saturday" performance on June 13!

The Mountain Play's production of The Wizard of Oz features Kyra Lynn Kozlenko as Dorothy, Safira McGraw as Aunt Em/Glinda, Danny Geogiev as Zeke/the Cowardly Lion, Cole Bryant as Hickory/the Tin Man, Lucas Michael Chandler as Hunk/the Scarecrow, and Libby Oberlin as Miss Almira Gulch/the Wicked Witch of the West. Mountain Play veteran Dyan McBride directs, musical direction is by Jon Gallo, and choreography is by Meredith Joelle Charlson.

Performances take place at 1 pm at Mt. Tam's Cushing Memorial Amphitheater on Sunday June 7, 13, and 21 and Saturday, June 14. General seating ticket prices range from $25–$50, and children 3 and under are free. Reserved seating tickets are also available starting at $60. This year, youth ages 4–25 are admitted free on opening day, Sunday, June 7! Order tickets online here.

Make a day of it at the Mountain Play

Of course the Mountain Play isn't just about the play — it's about the complete Mountain Play experience. A time-honored Mountain Play tradition is to bring your picnic lunch, and playgoers can get pretty elaborate with their gourmet picnic meals. Just checking out the gourmet fare that people bring is half the fun! There will even be a picnic contest at the last performance on Sunday, June 21 (which is also Father's Day). If you think your picnic spread is a contender, make sure you check in at the merchandise booth between 9:30 and 11 am when you arrive to enter the contest. Judging begins at 11:30 am and the special judge is TBA.

Don't want to pack your lunch? Don't worry, you can pre-order box lunches in advance and buy hot and cold drinks, snacks, and ice cream from Mill Valley Rotary, snow cones, and even wine and beer from Lagunitas Brewing Company (no outside alcohol allowed).

If you go

The Mountain Play box office opens at 9 am on performance days. Very limited parking is available on the mountain, and lots usually fill up by 11 am; advance reservations are highly recommended. Lots closest to the theatre are reserved for members and patrons with disabilities who have reserved spots in advance. Parking is available at the old Air Force base ($40 advance, $50 at the gate; cash only). A shuttle bus will take playgoers to and from the amphitheater from the Air Force base parking lots. Carpooling is encouraged!

The traditional way to get to the mountain play, however, is to take one of the shuttle buses up onto the mountain. The fleet of eco-friendly yellow buses will whisk you up to the Cushing Memorial Amphitheater from two locations in Mill Valley: Tamalpais High School on Miller Avenue and Shoreline parking lot at 100 Shoreline Avenue The Mountain Play shuttles begin their runs at 9:30 am and the last bus leaves at 11:45 am; they will be there to take you back down the mountain after the play. Shuttle bus fare up the mountain in the morning is $10 for adults and $5 for youth ages 4–25 (free for youth on opening day, May 21); the return trip is free. Cars may be parked at both locations all day free of charge.

When you go, make sure you're prepared for any kind of weather. Even if it's foggy in Mill Valley, the Rock Spring area and the amphitheater can be sunny and hot. Likewise, the temperature can drop in the afternoon when the fog rolls in. There are some areas of shade in the theater, but they're available on a first-come, first-served basis or part of the reserved seating area. Hats, sunscreen, and layered clothing are a must at the Mountain Play. Make sure you bring plenty of drinking water, too. Amphitheater seats are all stone blocks, so stadium cushions, pillows, blankets, and other forms of padding are a good idea, too. Reserved seats have pads in place already, and you can rent them when you get there.

For the true Mountain Play experience, take the Mountain Play Express shuttle bus up the mountain, and then hike down after the show. The route down Mt. Tam is seven miles and takes about two to three hours to complete, so if you plan on hiking bring plenty of water and wear appropriate clothing and footwear. For those who only want to hike part of the way, the Mountain Play offers a midway shuttle at 5:30, 5:50, and 6:10 pm. You can get a route map and hiking directions on the Mountain Play's website.

If you choose to hike down from the theater, the Mountain Play will transport your ice chests, blankets, picnic baskets, and other bulky items down the mountain for you; pick them up at the Depot in downtown Mill Valley, and then hop a shuttle bus for the ride back to your car (last shuttle at 8 pm). Other transportation options include biking or hiking up to the amphitheater.

To order tickets or for more information on this year's production and the Mountain Play experience, visit www.mountainplay.org or call (415) 383-1100.