The Missionary of Oz

Book By: Brian Sylvia
Play #: 1517
Pages: 47 pgs
Cast: 4 m, 5 w, 8 flexible

This stage adaptation of Frank Baum’s original story is perfect for churches and Christian schools. Dorothy, a teenager in Kansas, just isn’t interested in church anymore. In fact, she’s trying to determine what she really believes. Then in a dream, she finds she has been sent by God to a strange land, Oz, to be a missionary. Convinced she cannot accomplish the task, she is encouraged by Glinda the Good to seek the assistance of the Great Missionary in the Emerald City. On the way, she encounters three familiar characters who are also failed missionaries because of their doubts: the Scarecrow because he felt he wasn’t smart enough, the Tin Man because he wasn’t loving enough, and the Cowardly Lion because he wasn’t brave enough. However, as they share Christ with Evillene, the wicked witch, Dorothy realizes her own need for Christ. In the end, they find that the answer was in God’s Word {2 Timothy 1:7} all along: “For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” About 90 minutes. 

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Productions

COASTAL CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE HOMESCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
SEMMES, AL 5/2/2025
BIG HOUSE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 1 Performance(s)
CASA GRANDE, AZ 5/20/2024
SARASOTA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
SARASOTA, FL 4/29/2024
LAKELAND CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 1 Performance(s)
WINONA LAKE, IN 5/18/2023
ST MARK DELIVERANCE CENTER 1 Performance(s)
PORTSMOUTH, VA 2/17/2023
HAPPY HOME 1 Performance(s)
HENAGAR, AL 12/11/2022
CEDAR VIEW CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
KINGSPORT, TN 11/11/2022
ST JOHN LUTHERAN CHURCH 1 Performance(s)
BELLVILLE, TX 5/22/2022
TRINITY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 1 Performance(s)
LAKE WORTH, FL 5/8/2022
PURVIS METHODIST 1 Performance(s)
PURVIS, MS 4/29/2022
NORTHVILLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
WESTLAND, MI 3/11/2022
STAINED GLASS THEATRE OF MID MISSOURI 6 Performance(s)
JEFFERSON CITY, MO 7/29/2021
CHRIST COMMUNITY WESLEYAN CHURCH 1 Performance(s)
ATHENS, OH 7/16/2021
TWIN CITIES HOMESCHOOLERS FOR THE ARTS/JULIE NELSON 4 Performance(s)
APPLE VALLEY, MN 5/15/2021
TWIN CITIES HOMESCHOOLERS FOR THE ARTS/JULIE NELSON 1 Performance(s)
APPLE VALLEY, MN 3/27/2020
SOUTHERN MARYLAND CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 3 Performance(s)
WHITE PLAINS, MD 3/10/2020
PERTH BIBLE CHURCH & CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 1 Performance(s)
AMSTERDAM, NY 5/14/2019
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
TOPEKA, KS 5/5/2019
ARK CITY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 2 Performance(s)
ARKANSAS CITY, KS 4/4/2019
FBC PLATTSBURG 1 Performance(s)
PLATTSBURG, MO 3/23/2019
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 3 Performance(s)
WINNSBORO, TX 3/1/2019
LIFEGATE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
SEGUIN, TX 3/2/2018
INCHARACTER SCHOOL OF MINISTRY 3 Performance(s)
MARIANNA, FL 2/9/2018
SANIBEL COMMUNITY CHURCH 2 Performance(s)
SANIBEL, FL 2/4/2018
LIFE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 1 Performance(s)
ORLANDO, FL 12/4/2017
FIRST SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCH 1 Performance(s)
COFFEYVILLE, KS 6/11/2017
HOMESCHOOL COOP 1 Performance(s)
FLUSHING, MI 5/17/2017
FAIRWINDS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 3 Performance(s)
BEAR, DE 3/30/2017
KINGDOM ACADEMY OF BLUFFTON 3 Performance(s)
BLUFFTON, IN 3/9/2017
VALLEY FORGE BAPTIST TEMPLE 1 Performance(s)
ROYERSFORD, PA 3/8/2017
GETHSEMANE BAPTIST CHURCH 1 Performance(s)
NEWPORT NEWS, VA 10/24/2016
GETHSEMANE BAPTIST CHURCH 1 Performance(s)
NEWPORT NEWS, VA 10/1/2016
NEW LIFE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
OLIVEHURST, CA 5/27/2016
WINTON RD. 1ST CHURCH OF GOD 2 Performance(s)
FAIRFIELD, OH 3/5/2016
1948 2 Performance(s)
OWASSO, OK 1/23/2016
MCKINNEY COVE BAPTIST 1 Performance(s)
BAKERSVILLE, NC 12/20/2015
ESTA BAPTIST 1 Performance(s)
CHARLESTON, WV, WV 12/12/2015
RED BAY FWB CHURCH 1 Performance(s)
HAMILTON, AL 11/1/2015
RED BAY FWB CHURCH 1 Performance(s)
HAMILTON, AL 10/25/2015
WALLACE BAPTIST CHURCH 1 Performance(s)
PELICAN, LA 10/25/2015
MT. OLIVET C.O.B. 1 Performance(s)
BROADWAY, VA 10/17/2015
DAYBREAK BAPTIST CHURCH 2 Performance(s)
BAKERSFIELD, CA 5/17/2015
CENTRAL BAPTIST CHRISTIAN ACAD 1 Performance(s)
BINGHAMTON, NY 3/27/2015
CENTRAL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 2 Performance(s)
WICHITA, KS 3/6/2015
ROYVILLE FRIENDSHIP CHURCH 1 Performance(s)
RUSSELL SPRINGS, KY 11/15/2014
GRACE UMC ATTN. PATTI NEMAZIE 1 Performance(s)
CAPE CORAL, FL 11/4/2014
COMMUNITY BIBLE CHURCH 2 Performance(s)
BOW ISLAND, AB 11/1/2014
KEMP BAPTIST CHURCH 1 Performance(s)
HAMILTON, AL 10/26/2014
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH PENDLETON 2 Performance(s)
PENDLETON, SO 5/17/2014
HOMESCHOOL COOP 3 Performance(s)
FAIRFIELD, TX 5/16/2014
HARLEM UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 2 Performance(s)
HARLEM, GA 5/3/2014
CHRISTIAN OUTREACH SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
HILLSBORO, MO 5/1/2014
XENIA CHRISTIAN HIGH SCH 2 Performance(s)
XENIA, OH 2/15/2014
ANTIOCH LUTHERAN CHURCH 2 Performance(s)
FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 1/24/2014
WC MN YOUTH FOR CHRIST 5 Performance(s)
WILLMAR, MN 1/5/2014
CARDIGAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 2 Performance(s)
CARDIGAN, UK 12/12/2013
HODGES CHAPEL PH CHURCH 1 Performance(s)
CHOCOWINITY, NC 10/1/2013
BETHEL CHURCH 2 Performance(s)
HAMPTON, VA 8/16/2013
TRINITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 1 Performance(s)
SPRING VALLEY, CA 5/24/2013
SOUTH SIDE GENERAL BAPTIST 1 Performance(s)
MISHAWAKA, IN 5/4/2013

Behind The Scenes

Playwright Brian Sylvia Talks About

“The Missionary of Oz”

 

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS ADAPTATION?

In my freshman year of Bible college I had to present a brief sermon. I used a point that I had previously communicated to my youth group prior to leaving for school. My text was 2 Timothy 1:7 and my chief illustration for that sermon {the character struggles of the four main "Oz" characters} was ultimately the seed of the script.

 

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PART OR LINE IN THE PLAY? WHY?

I've always gotten a kick out of watching the interaction of Scarecrow and Tin Man after they first meet the Cowardly Lion. Their unison line in Act 1, Scene 5 {"Right. Right."} is very sarcastic and hilarious to watch, especially as we had them making an "OK" symbol with their hands and winking at each other. I have directed this show many times and have also played both the Scarecrow and the Great Missionary. I'd have to say I rather enjoyed the constant movement and the energetic wit of the Scarecrow.

 

WHAT WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART IN CREATING THIS ADAPTATION?

The familiarity of the story and the characters was a challenge in some aspects, but also a benefit. Since 1939, people have enjoyed these iconic characters. It was fun to make them a bit different while maintaining some of the original charm.

 

WHAT DID YOU TRY TO ACHIEVE THROUGH THIS ADAPTATION?

The main point is the truth of 2 Timothy 1:7, which has always been a favorite verse of mine. As a very shy kid who came to know Christ at the age of 12, I clung to the truth of this verse. I want others to understand the fact that God has given us a spirit of "power, and of love, and of a sound mind {self-control}."

 

DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?

Have fun with the comic relief provided by Addaperle; tap into the slightly sarcastic wisdom of the Scarecrow, and bring the Cowardly Lion to life with the same energy as Bert Lahr in the original movie. Have fun and communicate ageless truth!