Saturday, Cary's Koka Booth Amphitheatre will be transformed into the Land of Oz. The pathways will look like a yellow brick road. Kids and adults can meet characters such as Dorothy and Glinda the Good Witch, and even compete for best costume by dressing up as a favorite character from the movie.
And the magic will be just getting started.
At 8:30 p.m., "The Wizard of Oz" will play on the big screen. The audience will hear the movie's original voices and sound effects, but all of the music will be performed live on stage. Classics like "Follow the Yellow Brick Road" will fill the air, live, played by the N.C. Symphony.
"When Judy Garland sings 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow,' it will be her voice but the orchestra will be playing it," says Scott Freck, vice president for artistic operations and general manager of the N.C. Symphony. "It's the whole movie as you've never seen or heard it."
The event is part of Summerfest, the N.C. Symphony's annual concert series.
"Every year, we try to come up with an interesting blend of all kinds of music and all kinds of experiences," Freck says.
He says the symphony receives suggestionsand considers what other orchestras are doing. That process led to learning about "The Wizard of Oz" concert and screening.
"It's a great film and great score," he says. "And the fact that Koka Booth Amphitheatre already shows movies made it a great fit."
All about great music
Freck says including "The Wizard of Oz" in Summerfest is in keeping with the mission to celebrate great music. This year's series includes Latin music and Beethoven.
"Great music is all around us," Freck says. "You may not immediately say 'The Wizard of Oz' is a great thing for the symphony to do. But if it's great music, we want to be playing it."
Before the show, there will be an "Instrument Zoo" where kids can try out different instruments such as the trumpet, trombone, flute and clarinet.
"You see kids light up when they can get a trumpet to sound like a trumpet," he says.
There will also be activities such as taking a picture at a photo stand featuring The Tin Man, Cowardly Lion and Scarecrow, and raffles, including a chance to win a children's playhouse and a custom-made emerald green tourmaline ring.
You could even win a prize for the food you bring if it's "The Wizard of Oz"-inspired fare.
"We're so happy to be out there and be partners with the Town of Cary," Freck says. "There's a beautiful setting with pine trees and a lake. You can bring own food and beverage. It's a terrific place for family to have a concert experience."
