There's No Place Like Home: The Mountain Play Returns with "The Wizard of Oz"

After a hiatus in 2025, the Mountain Play is back, this time with a production of the classic musical The Wizard of Oz, featuring songs and music from the beloved 1939 MGM movie. We are thrilled to see live theater back on the mountain, and this year's offering is fun, funny, and thoroughly enjoyable production that's perfect for the whole family. There's no place like home at the Mountain Play!

You probably know the story of The Wizard of Oz (but maybe your kids don't): Dorothy Gale and her little dog Toto are transported via a tornado from Kansas to the enchanted Land of Oz, where she meets friends in the form of the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion; gains a pair of magical ruby slippers; and incurs the wrath of the Wicked Witch of the West (after accidentally dropping a house on her sister, the Wicked Witch of the East). Dorothy and her friends journey to the Emerald City with the hope that the Wizard of Oz can help her find her way back home.

This version of L. Frank Baum's timeless tale features iconic songs by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg including "Over the Rainbow," "If I Only Had a Brain," "We're Off to See the Wizard," "If I Were King of the Forest," and "The Merry Old Land of Oz," accompanied by an 18-piece live orchestra adeptly conducted by Jon Gallo. Interestingly, it also includes numbers that were filmed but ultimately cut from the 1939 movie, like "Jitterbug." The Wizard of Oz is directed by Mountain Play veteran Dyan McBride, who appeared on stage as the leads in Mamma Mia! (2018) and Hello, Dolly! (2022).

Overall, we thought the cast was fantastic, especially Kyra Lynn Kozlenko as an appropriately spunky Dorothy, Lucas Michael Chandler as the Scarecrow/Hunk, Cole Bryant as the Tin Man/Hickory, Safira McGraw at Glinda/Aunt Em, and David Yen as the Wizard of Oz/Professor Marvel. But really, Danny Georgiev as the Cowardly Lion/Zeke really stole the show with his comic timing, singing, and energy, as did Libby Oberlin as the Wicked Witch of the West/Miss Elmira Gulch, who we really wished had more scenes to steal.

Kyra Lynn Kozlenko as Dorothy, Lucas Michael Chandler as the Scarecrow/Hunk, Cole Bryant as the Tin Man/Hickory, David L. Yen as the Wizard of Oz/Professor Chester Marvel. Photo: Eileen Grady.

It's always interesting to see what the mountain play does with its sets and scenery, taking advantage of its outdoor setting and overcoming the limitations that it poses. The set for The Wizard of Oz has a sort of steampunk vibe that totally makes sense once the Wonderful Wizard of Oz himself makes his appearance. It's multiple levels allow for innovative entrances and exits by the cast and — not to give anything away — make sure you look skyward when the Wicked Witch of the West threatens the Emerald City with "Surrender Dorothy".

As usual, the Mountain Play is a wonderful live musical theater production for everyone in the family and a classic Marin County experience. It's both a great time at the theater and a fun outdoors outing rolled into one! My family and I look forward to attending every year. Great tickets are still available for all Mountain Play performances on Saturday, June 13 (sing-along!), Sunday, June 14, and Sunday, June 21, with all shows beginning at 1 pm.

If You Go

General seating tickets to the Mountain Play are $50 for adults, $45 for seniors 65+, and $25 for youths 4–25 plus a $3.75 state park access fee; children 3 and under are free. Reserved seats are also available. Order tickets online here. You can also buy tickets at the gate; the box office opens at 9 am and tickets purchased at the gate cost an additional $5.

Performances start at 1 pm and end around 3:30 pm, but of course you'll want to get there early to stake out a spot in the amphitheater and have a picnic.

When you go, make sure you're prepared for any kind of weather. Even if it's foggy in Mill Valley, the Rock Springs and amphitheater area can be above it all and bathed in bright sunlight. Of course it can be windy and foggy, too. There are some areas of shade in the amphitheater, but they're either available on a first-come, first-served basis or part of the reserved seating section.

Hats, sunscreen, and layered clothing are a must at the Mountain Play. Make sure you bring plenty of drinking water, too, although drinking fountains and drink concessions are available at the play. Amphitheater seats are all stone blocks, so stadium cushions, pillows, blankets, and other forms of padding are a good idea, too. You can rent pads at the amphitheater and reserved seats have pads in place already.

The Mountain Play takes place at the Cushing Memorial Amphitheater in Mount Tamalpais State Park. While you can park up at the amphitheater, which is located near the Rock Springs trailhead and parking area, parking there is very limited, and usually sells out early.

The traditional way to get to the Mountain Play is to take one of the shuttle buses ($10 adults, $5 youth) up from Mill Valey. Buses leave Tamalpais High School and the Shoreline Parking Lot starting at 9 am (last bus is at 11:45 am) and will take you back down the mountain after the play.

For more information on how to get to there, read our Insider's Guide to the 2026 Mountain Play. You can learn more about the Mountain Play at www.mountainplay.org or (415) 383-1100.