Children's Theatre Company Brings a Fresh and Diverse Wizard of Oz to Minneapolis This Spring
The Children's Theatre Company is bringing a fresh, diverse production of The Wizard of Oz to Minneapolis from April 21 through June 14, featuring choreography by Christopher Windom and a cast that includes Apple Valley High School junior Aniya Bostick as Dorothy.
The Children’s Theatre Company is bringing the classic musical to Minneapolis for audiences of all ages to enjoy.
The Children’s Theatre Company is bringing its rendition of the classic motion picture “The Wizard of Oz” to Minneapolis from April through June. The ensemble cast brings together a group of diverse actors and actresses, hoping to captivate audiences of all ages on a magical journey down the Yellow Brick Road.
Christopher Windom, the production’s lead choreographer, brings an extensive background in both theater and film. Windom’s credits include choreography for the biographical film “Respect,” starring Jennifer Hudson, as well as the Broadway production of “Fences.”
Windom said he hopes this interpretation of the classic will offer a fresh, relatable perspective for today’s audiences.
“The mission is how to make the familiar seem new, so I feel like most people have a relationship to “The Wizard of Oz,” probably starting out young, you know, lying on your belly with your chin on your hands, looking up at the TV at this wonderful technicolor world that comes through from the classic MGM version, or “The Wiz” version with all of that style and specific voice,” said Windom.
He continued:
“What’s unique about this group of actors taking on these characters is that we could only see here, and if someone wanted to see this particular production of ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ they would have to come to Minneapolis at this time in 2026 to see this. So I think that is sort of a mission of ours: how to make the familiar seem new,” said Windom.
Windom said he’s excited to work with a multi-generational and diverse cast.
“I do feel like we pulled together a group of people who are as diverse in their background, whether culturally, but also in their skill sets and talents as well,” said Windom.
Although the production is still in its early stages, Windom said he’s eager to see how each actor brings their own unique interpretation and energy to these classic characters.
“It’s fun to see a character like Dorothy go from Munchkinland to the forest to Oz to Emerald City, and each world should have its own special look and feel and vibe and personality,” said Windom.
Aniya Bostick, one of the actresses portraying Dorothy, is a current junior at Apple Valley High School. In 2025, she was selected for the Triple Threat New York Experience through the Hennepin Theatre Trust. Bostick said it was through the same program that she first learned about the opportunity to audition for “The Wizard of Oz.”
As a way to prepare for the role of Dorothy, Bostick said she’s been rewatching the original “The Wizard of Oz” as well as “The Wiz” for inspiration. She added that she’s excited to bring her own uniqueness to the role of Dorothy while amplifying the traits that make her beloved by so many.
“I think Dorothy is very powerful and very smart and she knows what she’s doing, she’s protecting those around her who don’t have the ability to protect themselves, so I want to amplify those things,” said Bostick. “I also want to lean into my culture and my Blackness and my, you know, ‘Black Girl Magic.’”
Bostick noted that she hopes to be a role model for young Black girls who are often underrepresented in the media.
“I just hope to be a beacon for the kids who look like me, the girls who look like me, and people who look like me.”
Bostick said what differentiates this version of “The Wizard of Oz” from others is the authenticity it brings. She hopes the production will bring a sense of hope, especially in the midst of troubling times in Minneapolis.
“I think it’s a show about hope, really. Especially being in Minneapolis and doing arts in Minneapolis. I think this show is a way to distract those who are going through hard times and those who need the reminder that anything that they need to prosper is just within them. It’s just a really magical show,” said Bostick.
Performance dates are set to run from April 21 to June 14, 2026. More information is available at https://childrenstheatre.org/whats-on/the-wizard-of-oz-2/
Aamira Redd is a freelance journalist and contributor for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder