Author: Ryan Jay

An interview with KO, a fan with the vision and determination to make his dream come true. Loving The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz, and hip-hop, he’s brought all three together in his new film The Wizard 20Twenty. And he did it during a pandemic. Here’s the trailer. Then scroll down for an interview with KO. Our thanks to Ryan Jay for making this interview happen.  

Composing and conducting the score for Disney’s live-action feature film, Return to Oz, pulled David Shire into the world of Oz. He delivered music that is in turn haunting, playful, sober, and soaring. Wonderfully cinematic, Shire’s work carries us from loneliness and exuberance into a ragtime celebration. It’s evocative, enchanting, and a perfect fit for the Land of Oz. Ryan Jay’s interview with Shire is part of an ongoing series that remembers Return to Oz.

Our interview with Jessica Grové asks the questions you want to know. What was it like working with Mickey Rooney and the stars in the Madison Square Garden production of Oz? Did she expect to be Dorothy again? How did she react when asked to step back into the Ruby Slippers at age 39? From tales of Totos to forgotten lines, Jessica share her memories with Oz Talk co-hosts Ryan Jay and Victoria Calamito. This is her life today–as a mom–and tomorrow when she takes the stage to perform a concert of Judy Garland classics. Don’t miss this 30 minutes with the Broadway actress who charmed audiences in 1997, then clicked her heels back into our hearts last month.