New adaption of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ comes to Des Moines

One of America’s most beloved stories will come to life on stage when “The Wizard of Oz” opens on Tuesday at the Des Moines Civic Center.

The upcoming production shares the timeless tale of Dorothy and Toto’s adventure through the strange and wonderful Land of Oz. Written by L. Frank Baum and made popular by the 1939 movie starring Judy Garland, the story shares the adventures of a young Kansas girl swept up by a tornado and taken to a new world where she encounters many strange people and creatures while trying to find a way home.

Just like in the movie, the stage version will include Dorothy’s friends — Tin Man, Scarecrow and Cowardly Lion. Aaron Fried, who has been in numerous touring productions, will be donning the lion costume for the national tour of “The Wizard of Oz.”

“It’s really, really amazing,” said Fried during a phone interview. “We have all the iconic moments for the movie, but I think people will be surprised by how spectacular it is live.”

To prepare for the iconic role, Fried did his homework on Bert Lahr, the actor who made the Cowardly Lion famous in the movie.

“I read a lot of books on Bert Lahr’s life, studied a lot about Bert and read ‘The Real Wizard of Oz’ to learn what the character was built on,” Fried said.

While Fried said he admires the movie actor’s portrayal and wanted to do the character justice there was no pressure to emulate Lahr’s Cowardly Lion.

“It’s awesome because I was given creative license to create my own character,” he said. “It’s fun to be able to jump in and really create your own characters.”

Fried said he believes the story of Oz has been a favorite for more than a century and resonates with audience members of all ages because it is so relatable, especially the character of the Cowardly Lion.

“Everyone can relate to the lion because at some point in life there has probably been a time where maybe they don’t have the courage they need, or there has been pressure to be something they are not whether at school, work or at home,” he said. “The part really spoke to me.”

Don’t be a coward, see Fried and the rest of the Oz cast on stage at the Civic Center beginning Tuesday. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15-18, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19, and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Dec. 20. Tickets for the latest installment of the Willis Broadway series are available starting at $35 each at DesMoinesPerformingArts.org, the Civic Center Ticket office or by calling 800-745-3000.

“I’ve been in and seen a lot of theatre, and this truly is one of the most beautiful sets I’ve ever seen,” Fried said. “The team really did an amazing job creating this different and magical world. People will come expecting to see a huge spectacular show and they will. I think people will really enjoy it.”