Since it’s 1939 release, The Wizard of Oz has become an enduring part of American popular culture. For the film adaptation, the writers took liberties with Frank L. Baum’s novel. The film, rather than novel, has come to define the elements of the Oz story. The annual holiday broadcast, starting in 1956, ensured a lasting presence for generations of children. The film gives us memorable songs, a classic epic hero quest, and a powerful message, topped with Judy Garland’s endearing performance. More remarkably, the movie has inspired several reinterpretations. Each one has become great in its own right. While there have been a number of retellings, three examples stand out.

The Wiz

The first noteworthy reinterpretation arrived in 1974 with the stage production of The Wiz. The music won the Tony for Best Musical in 1975. It re-tells the story from an African-American perspective. Charlie Smalls wrote most of the musical numbers, while Luther Vandross wrote the song “Everybody Rejoice/A Brand New Day.” The powerful final song, “Home,” holds its own against the classic “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from the 1939 movie.

Universal and Motown reimagined the The Wiz for the 1978 film starring Diana Ross. (Although she was too old for the part, the strength of the overall production compensated.) Quincy Jones, Ashford and Simpson, and Charlie Smalls added several new songs. Director Sydney Lumet cleverly adapted the setting to an urban environment, a semi-mythical New York City. Despite its initial critical and commercial failure, The Wiz garnered a cult following, thanks to its great music and talented cast. The tin man originates in an abandoned Coney Island amusement park. Taxis won’t pick up black passengers. Hookers and pimps parade outside the city gates. The wicked witch oversees a sweatshop. And the lion guards the entrance to the New York Public Library.

Wicked

Author Gregory Maguire, known for novels told from the point of view of fairy-tale villains, got inside the mind of the Wicked Witch of the West for Wicked. Composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz and librettist Winnie Holzman adapted the novel for the 2003 musical. The story explains how prejudice turned the witch villainous, fostering our sympathy in a character who previously had been considered purely evil. Wicked provides first-rate songs capable of standing on their own, such as “Gravity” and “For Good.”

Straight Outta Oz

In 2011, Todrick Hall launched an effort to raise money to fund a new Oz story. He finally realized his vision in 2016 with the visual album and touring show Straight Outta Oz, a pun on NWA’s album Straight Outta Compton. For those of us unfortunate enough to have missed the tour, one can find the visual album on YouTube. Like its predecessors above, the result is a masterpiece. In this case, the plot recounts the autobiographical journey of a young, gay black man seeking his way in the music industry.

The lead character (Todrick) embodies each of several key Oz personalities: Dorothy, scarecrow, tin man, lion, witch. The scarecrow confronts racism, sexism, and homophobia in “Dumb.” (I get so emotional listening to this song.) The tin man surrenders his heart to stifle his feelings after a devastating love affair in “If I Had a Heart.” “Wrong Bitch” summons queer anger against injustice. The clever lyrics, the compelling story, and the flawless musical production by wiidope, combine to create a powerful experience.

Is there something in the Oz story that inspires great, enduring music? It seems so. I cannot think of any other contemporary myth with such a strong track record. Battling evil and injustice. Finding oneself. There’s no place like home. The message speaks to all of us. The music in each of these productions draws us in, finding a permanent home in our hearts.

[See related post: “The Wiz vs. The Wiz“]