Witches Get Stitches

Before Elphaba and Glinda took on a life of their own in the Broadway smash spinoff Wicked, there was the original, Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz. This week, you too can be off to see the wonderful wizard when the Broward Center for Performing Arts' Au-Rene Theater hosts the newest adaptation of this magical Technicolor splendor. Ain't nothing better than the real thing, right? Follow that yellow brick road and watch Dorothy, Toto, and company take to the stage; beats any 3-D version around. This nationally touring show brings all the original numbers and comes with a few surprise additions as well -- rumor has it this performance showcases new numbers by Tim Rice and Webber himself. Staged by the same team that took London and Toronto by storm with its rendition of the Sound of Music, this show puts the Tin Man, Lion, and, yes, even the wicked witch in good hands. The Wizard of Oz comes to the Au-Rene Theater from Sunday through January 19 at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts (201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale). Showtimes are 8 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday; 2 p.m. Saturday; and 1 p.m. Sunday. There will be an additional showing at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, January 12. Tickets cost $34.50 to $89.50. Call 954-462-0222, or visit browardcenter.org.
Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 2 p.m.; Sundays, 1 p.m. Starts: Jan. 7. Continues through Jan. 19, 2014