Close
Oz_Header_Banner-0001.jpg

the wizard of oz

March 5 - 14, 2027  •  Ellie Caulkins Opera House

Rediscover the wonder of Oz.  
Follow the yellow brick road! Colorado Ballet brings L. Frank Baum’s beloved classic to life. Journey with Dorothy and Toto as they befriend Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion, confront the Wicked Witch, and discover the true meaning of home. Internationally acclaimed choreographer Septime Webre—creator of ALICE (in wonderland)—blends classical and contemporary ballet with vibrant storytelling. This family-friendly performance dazzles with flying effects, 42 enchanting puppets (including Toto!), stunning sets and costumes, and breathtaking special effects. Matthew Pierce’s vibrant, genre-blending original score will be performed live by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra. 

Story lines and visual elements from the classic motion picture provided by Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures.   

Run Time
2 hours including one 20-minute intermission. 

Age Recommendation
5 and older; some scenes may be frightening for young audiences.

Tickets 
Tickets start at $40. Single Tickets on sale July 1, 2026.  

Subscribe and Save 25% 
Enjoy exclusive perks all season long, including 25% savings on tickets, early access to The Nutcracker and Fancy Footwork, and priority seating before the public. Subscribers also receive free exchanges, flexible payment plans, and price protection. Subscriptions start at $30 per ticket.

synopsis

Kansas 

It is morning on Uncle Henry and Aunt Em’s farm in Kansas and the farmhands goof off between chores, ignoring Dorothy, who feels unappreciated and dreams of a place far away. Their unpleasant neighbor Miss Gulch arrives to complain about Dorothy’s little dog, Toto, threatening to take him away. 

Toto escapes and Dorothy runs away with him. On the road, Dorothy meets a showman, Professor Marvel, who urges her to return to the farm as a twister approaches. 

The Twister and Munchkinland 

Dorothy is lifted into the sky by the twister and travels for what seems like an eternity. Suddenly she plops to the ground with a thud. The twister has taken her to the Land of Oz, where she meets the Munchkins and Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. Dorothy’s bed has fallen upon the Witch of the East, killing her, and freeing the Munchkins from her power. As the Munchkins celebrate, the Wicked Witch of the West arrives to claim her sister’s magical ruby slippers and avenge her sister’s death. 
 

But in a flash, the ruby slippers appear on Dorothy’s feet, thwarting the Witch … for the moment. Dorothy wants to go home to Kansas. The Munchkins tell Dorothy that, surely the Wizard of Oz will help her, and she sets off down the Yellow Brick Road towards the Emerald City to find him. 

Along the Yellow Brick Road 

Along the way, Dorothy and Toto meet three new friends who need help: a Scarecrow whose head full of straw; a Tin Man with an empty chest, and a Lion who is afraid of his own tail. Dorothy invites them to join her to see if the Wizard can help them too. When the Wicked Witch fails to intimidate Dorothy and her friends, she creates a beautiful field of poppies whose scent is poisonous. Glinda causes it to snow, and the poppies melt away, revealing the gates of the Emerald City. Dorothy and her friends boldly knock on the gates but the Guard with the Green Whiskers and his Assistant send them away. 

The Emerald City 

The Guard sees that Dorothy is wearing the ruby slippers and assumes she must be a person of great importance. He welcomes the friends into the Emerald City. As they are preparing to meet the Wizard, the Witch flies by with another warning to Dorothy: give her those slippers! Unsettled, the group is led into the Wizard’s throne room where they ask for his help. He tells them that to prove themselves worthy of his assistance they must bring him the broom stick of the Wicked Witch of the West. 

Winged Monkeys and the Witch’s Castle 

Dorothy and her friends depart in haste, and as they make their way to the Witch’s Castle, they are set upon by the Witch’s Winged Monkeys who capture Dorothy, The Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion, sneak into the castle to try to free Dorothy and Toto, who have been imprisoned by the Witch and the Winkies, her slaves. Amid the chaos, the Witch makes a grab for the ruby slippers and Dorothy defends herself by throwing a bucket of water on the Witch, who melts into nothingness. The friends take her broomstick and return to the Emerald City. 

The Humbug and Dorothy’s Return Home 

In the Throne Room, the Wizard is reluctant to help Dorothy and her friends, when Toto discovers a befuddled man behind an emerald wall: it turns out that the Wizard is a humbug. He’s not a wizard at all, but an ordinary man from Kansas who found himself in Oz after he lost control of his hot-air balloon. The Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion impatiently remind him that he promised to help them, but the Wizard points out that they don’t need his help—they have already shown brains, heart and courage beyond measure. As for Dorothy, he tells her that he will take Toto and her to Kansas himself in his hot-air balloon. As they prepare to depart, Toto runs off, and Dorothy chases him, but it’s too late—the wind has already taken the Wizard, leaving Dorothy and Toto behind. 

Glinda appears, telling Dorothy that her ruby slippers will take her home. Dorothy says farewell to her friends, and with the aid of the slippers, wills herself home. 

Dorothy awakens to finds herself at home in Kansas, with Toto asleep at her feet. 

about the artists

About Septime Webre 

Internationally acclaimed choreographer and artistic leader Septime Webre is a transformative force in contemporary ballet whose work has captivated audiences around the world. As Artistic Director of Hong Kong Ballet and former longtime leader of The Washington Ballet, Webre is celebrated for reimagining classic stories through bold, cinematic dance. His choreography—featured by leading companies across North America—blends theatrical storytelling with athletic movement, bringing beloved works like The Great Gatsby, Romeo + Juliet, and The Nutcracker vividly to life in fresh cultural contexts. A former principal dancer and influential arts advocate, Webre continues to shape the future of ballet with creativity, ambition, and an unmistakable flair for spectacle. 

Critics have described The Wizard of Oz as a visually dazzling, exuberant, and deeply personal adaptation that successfully blends the magic of L. Frank Baum’s story with Webre’s signature eclectic choreographic style. 

About Matthew Pierce 

Composer and violinist Matthew Pierce is a master of cinematic, emotionally rich scores that bring storytelling to life on the ballet stage. Renowned for his collaborations with leading American companies, Pierce has created a distinctive musical voice that blends classical tradition with contemporary influences, weaving Americana, jazz, and pop into sweeping orchestral landscapes. A Peabody Conservatory–trained musician who began his career in New York theater, he possesses a deep affinity for dance—refined through close artistic partnerships with choreographers like Septime Webre, with whom he has created multiple full-length works, including the widely celebrated Alice (in wonderland) and The Wizard of Oz. Critically praised for his evocative, dynamic compositions, Pierce’s music enchants audiences with its originality, emotional depth, and irresistible sense of drama. 

Critics have described Pierce’s score for The Wizard of Oz as lush, inventive, and thematically rich, blending Americana with jazz, pop, and contemporary influences to create a score that both evokes the spirit of the original story and feels fresh for the ballet stage. 

Emerald City Party at Dazzle 

March 6, 2027 | 4:00–7:00 p.m. 

Follow the Yellow Brick Road to an afternoon of glamour, music, and enchantment at the Emerald City Party at Dazzle. Guests are encouraged to come dressed in their Emerald City best—think shimmering greens, dazzling golds, and all the sparkle worthy of the Land of Oz. Step into a world of elegance and excess as the sounds of live Big Band music fill the room, setting the stage for an afternoon of dancing, mingling, and celebration. Exclusively for Colorado Ballet patrons attending the March 6 matinee or evening performance of The Wizard of Oz (performance ticket required). Dazzle is located at 1080 14th Street, just next door to the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. 

Dazzle Tickets: Tickets go on sale August 1. All tickets include passed appetizers, food station, and non-alcoholic beverages—tax and gratuity included.  

$59 per person (non-alcoholic admission) 
$79 per person (includes alcoholic beverages) 

Wizard of Oz tickets must be purchased separately.