Pacific Conservatory Theatre (PCPA) invites audiences to follow the yellow brick road to its production of “The Wizard of Oz,” Nov. 5-Dec. 20 at the Marian Theatre in Santa Maria.

When Dorothy Gale is swept away from Kansas and lands somewhere over the rainbow, she embarks on an extraordinary journey home where she encounters unforgettable friends, legendary foes, and ultimately discovers that what she had been searching for may have been within her all along, PCPA said.

The reimagined production brings the beloved classic to life through a high-flying collaboration with 2 Ring Circus, PCPA said.

“Audiences can expect a production filled with imagination, music, acrobatics, and breathtaking spectacle while staying rooted in the story that has charmed audiences for generations,” organizers said.

Directed by Mark Booher, “The Wizard of Oz,” which, coincidentally, was the first show Booher directed at PCPA, is also his final production with the organization, following a 27-year tenure, including 21 years as artistic director.

“The Wizard of Oz is a story that is centered on the human heart. Dorothy’s heart. She is our way into the story, and so, by abstraction, the story finds its relevance — its sticking point — in the heart of each person that sees it. That’s what makes it timeless. That’s what makes it a classic,” Booher said.

“Ultimately, while the places we go and the events that occur are fantastic, what we’re left with is the relationships, and the changes wrought on the individuals, as a result of the adventure,” he said.

“Those relationships, personal attachments, and changes are what we need to keep in sight. Through all the dazzle of the epic heroine’s journey,” he said.

The Wizard of Oz is also a story about home, which is fitting for Santa Maria local Bloom Carrera who steps into Dorothy’s ruby red slippers in this production.

“This has been a real dream come true for me. Dorothy Gale is a character I’ve been wanting to play for years,” Carrera said. “I really relate to her yearning to belong somewhere, but I think everyone on Earth can relate to that feeling as well. It’s why Dorothy is such a beloved character.

“As a second-year student in training at PCPA, this journey is an incredible learning experience for me. I’m working alongside my teachers and people whose crafts I really admire,” she said.

Playing Dorothy’s adorable dog Toto will be Baloo, a five-year-old mutt with a big personality, who, according to his owner first year student Mozart Pierson, was “born to play Toto.”

Baloo played Toto for a project with 42nd Street Moon on Zoom, and he was the role at the Camelot Theatre in Talent, Oregon.

“Like Toto, he is always up for an adventure; he’s smart as a whip and sweeter than candy. He may not always bring the ball back when you throw it, but he will always know a way to lighten the load on a crummy day,” Pierson said.

This is the second collaboration between PCPA and 2 Ring Circus, following their previous partnership on Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” in 2019.

For tickets, visit https://pcpa.org/events/the-wizard-of-oz-2026-12-12-130-pm/.

Founded in 2011 and based out of New York City, 2 Ring Circus specializes in harmoniously adding the circus arts into theatrical productions.

“The Wizard of Oz” will include ariel stunts and acrobatics choregraphed by 2 Ring Circus’ artistic director Joshua Dean. The show features co-managing director Benjamin Franklin* as Uncle Henry/Emerald City Guard.

Other cast members are: Kitty Balay as Aunt Em; Benjamin Franklin as Uncle Henry / Emerald City Guard; Erik Stein as Zeke / Cowardly Lion; Mike Fiore as Hickory / Tin Man; Alexander Pimentel as Hunk / Scarecrow; Molly Stilliens as Almira Gulch / The Wicked Witch of the West; Andrew Philpot as Professor Marvel / The Wizard of Oz; Christen Celaya as Circus Aerialist / Glinda the Good Witch of the North.

The Ensemble includes Joshua Dean, Xcellen Connor, John Piper, Geovani Rendon, Edward Stach, Drew Vander Weele, Joelle Andrews, Elle Dela Cruz, Belle Heldt, Emy Herman, Jessica Jusseaume, Emily Swalef, Frida Vega, and Gracie Domenghini.