A Conversation with Director Greg Shane, "The Enemy of Oz," Blue Door Theater, by James Scarborough
March 31, 2025
In its reimagining of L. Frank Baum's world, "The Enemy of Oz" transforms Oz from a fairyland into a hotbed of political intrigue and conflict. Christopher Ureña's script weaves contemporary themes of power and corruption into the familiar Oz tapestry, creating something both nostalgic and new.
What makes this production revolutionary isn't just its story but its performers. Theatre by the Blind - the only all-blind theater company in the United States - gives this tale of perception versus reality unusual depth. The company doesn't perform despite visual impairment; they transform it into a theatrical device that enhances the play's exploration of perception versus reality.
The production centers on two women discovering their complicated legacies: DD (Myrachele Thomas) and the daughter of villain Calliope (Olena Calderon). Their collision course drives the narrative toward both personal revelation and political revolution.
Director Greg Shane guides this ensemble with care, allowing each performer's unique relationship with space and sound to inform the staging. The result isn't theater that accommodates blindness but harnesses it as a creative force, asking audiences to reconsider not just Oz, but their own assumptions about ability, perception, and theatrical storytelling.
Below follows an email conversation with Greg Shane.
JS: What initially drew you to Christopher Ureña's script? How did the collaboration between ArtsUP! LA and Theatre by the Blind begin?
GS: I have read several of Christopher's works and was impressed by his ability to write dialogue that truly engages me with the characters. I had the idea of collaborating on an original script that places the audience in the future of the renowned story, The Wizard of Oz.
Chris and I worked together to develop a structure and unique ideas centered around the journey of Dorothy’s daughter and the Wicked Witch’s daughter.
Chris took all the ideas we discussed and crafted a compelling and exciting script that became "Enemy of Oz."
Theatre by the Blind is one of many programs under the ArtsUP! LA umbrella. It was started 21 years ago with four visually impaired individuals sharing their life stories in a gymnasium. Since then, Theatre by the Blind has performed in prestigious venues, including the Frost Auditorium in the Miracle Theater. We are extremely excited to premiere "Enemy of Oz" at ArtsUP! LA’s home in Culver City in just one month.
JS: Could you walk us through your approach to staging this production? What unique considerations come with directing the only all-blind theater company in the country?
GS: I direct actors with the same mindset as I would direct sighted actors. When it comes to blocking in theater, I need to get creative with how to utilize sound cues, textured surfaces for the actors' feet, and anything else that helps them navigate the stage more effectively. I believe that my experience of having to wear a patch over one eye when I was younger, due to being blind in one eye, gives me valuable insight into directing and guiding actors on stage.
JS: The press materials mention both "old and new generations" of characters. How have you and the design team distinguished between these different eras of Oz?
GS: One of the main storylines that lends believability to the future of Oz revolves around a wizard who has been cursed and cannot age. The audience follows Dorothy’s daughter, DD, as she encounters the wizard, and a love story develops between them. Meanwhile, the Lion, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Man are called upon to assist with a rescue mission. Additionally, the Wicked Witch’s daughter discovers the truth about her heritage, which motivates her to become an enemy of Oz.
Performances run Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from May 2 through May 17, 2025. Friday and Saturday shows begin at 8:00 p.m., Sunday performances at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $15. The Blue Door Theater is at 9617 Venice Boulevard, Culver City, California 90232 (North side of Venice Boulevard, between Cardiff Avenue and Watseka Avenue). For more information, click here.
agree to search for DD together. Photo credit: Lynn Shane
to take control over Oz. Photo credit: Lynn Shane