November 1995: Jewel, Jackson Browne, and Roger Daltrey Star in a Wizard of Oz Concert for Charity

The year is 1995, and there’s a special concert happening at the Lincoln Center in New York City. The Wizard of Oz In Concert: Dreams Come True was an adaptation of The Wizard of Oz movie, and was put on to benefit the Child Defense Fund. It starred Jewel as Dorothy, Jackson Browne as the Scarecrow, Roger Daltrey as the Tin Man, and Nathan Lane as the Cowardly Lion, among other notable performers.

The performance pulled heavily from the film, with only a few differences. For example, Uncle Henry, Miss Gulch, and the three farmhands were not present at the beginning, which starts with “Over the Rainbow” and goes from there. Other notable differences included a lack of dancing. The performers were more or less stationary at music stands, with the orchestra present on stage with them. It was more like reader’s theater than a fully choreographed production.

It’s No Return to Oz, but The Wizard of Oz In Concert is Still Cherished Years Later

Many people remember the concert with fondness, having seen it when it aired on PBS. In a Reddit thread, those who’d caught the production shared their memories of it.

“I remember watching this as a child when it aired on PBS,” one person wrote. “It’s actually better than I remember it! Everyone is so perfectly cast, and I love the pop spin they took on the musical arrangements without becoming too corny. They used just enough dialogue to keep the concert moving without bogging it down with a story we already know.”

The cast was rounded out with Natalie Cole as Glinda, Joel Gray as the Wizard, Debra Winger as the Wicked Witch, and Lucie Arnaz as Aunt Em. What’s interesting about the arrangements of the songs is that they were specifically tailored to the performers’ strengths and styles. There was more of a pop feel for Jewel, while “If I Only Had a Brain” was transcribed into a folksy tune for Jackson Browne. Similarly, “If I Only Had a Heart” was played with a rock and roll tempo for Roger Daltrey.

The Wizard of Oz is certainly a cherished part of entertainment history, and it’s various adaptations and retellings prove that it has staying power all these years later.

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