The Wizard of Oz has debuted at Sphere, and is much more than a screening of the original film within the landmark venue. Rather, ‘The Wizard of Oz at Sphere’ is a fully immersive experience that is designed to make audiences feel like they have stepped inside the classic film.
Inside the main bowl, the original film, shot for a 4:3 movie screen in the 1930s, now fills Sphere’s interior display plane, which wraps up, over, and around the audience to create a fully immersive visual environment. To take advantage of Sphere Immersive Sound’s capabilities and ability to direct sound anywhere in the venue, the original film’s score was re-recorded to take on new clarity, while preserving the cast’s vocal performances. Multi-sensory 4D elements combine for maximum impact to make audiences feel like they are in the experience alongside the characters.
As with all events at Sphere, The Wizard of Oz at Sphere begins with the Exosphere – with all content created in house by Sphere Studios. Guests enter the venue via the Atrium, which for The Wizard of Oz at Sphere, has been completely transformed, immersing audiences in the Land of Oz from the moment they enter the venue. Upon entry, audiences step into a sepia-toned, Kansas-themed space, including a full-scale replica of Professor Marvel’s caravan, with Miss Gulch’s iconic musical motif playing, and themed visuals.
As guests exit the bowl following the film experience, they step into an Atrium that has transformed into Emerald City, complete with a live interactive mini-show with the Wizard of Oz himself, which uses real-time, live motion capture techniques as the Wizard of Oz on the holographic wall interacts with guests.
