Broadway’s First Wizard of Oz!

By LINDA DUPREE, The Players Foundation

David C. Montgomery as the Tin Woodman and Fred A. Stone as the Scarecrow in 1903

Long before the 1939 film, "The Wizard of Oz" was a Broadway smash. Premiering at the Majestic Theatre in 1903, this lavish musical extravaganza featured a book and lyrics by Player L. Frank Baum himself, bringing his beloved novel to the stage with spectacle, humor, and vaudeville charm.

Pictured here are David C. Montgomery as the Tin Woodman and Fred A. Stone as the Scarecrow, the show’s biggest stars. Their ingenious costumes,  metallic suit for Montgomery and a cleverly patched, straw-stuffed look for Stone, helped bring the characters to life. Stone’s athletic, acrobatic performance as the Scarecrow became so legendary that it later influenced Ray Bolger’s portrayal in the 1939 film.

With whimsical sets, dazzling effects, and a score by Paul Tietjens, this Broadway hit ran for 293 performances and toured the country, solidifying Oz’s place in pop culture history. While its songs are mostly forgotten today, the production proved that fantasy musicals could captivate audiences, paving the way for future classics.

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Linda Dupree

Linda Dupree, former CEO of NCSolutions, now serves on The Players Foundation board, bringing her corporate leadership to the preservation of theatre and cultural history -- driven by a deep belief in the transformative power of the arts.