Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz

See it if you enjoy 1920's-30's music. A jukebox of beautiful tunes with many updated lyrics. A tame/safe telling of Judy's early life. Great staging.

Don't see it if you expect the bluntness and grit of the "Judy" movie.

Also Even though there are the hints and signs of the problems to come, most is not dealt with nor shown in gritty detail. This is a Lifetime movie version of a tragic story. Made for all audiences. Endearing more than revealing.... Read more Read less

See it if You are interested in Garland. I didn't know too much about her life before OZ so it was interesting. Loved Margherita as Ethel Gumm.

Don't see it if If you are expecting drama. Theres a tiny bit but this is a pretty lighthearted musical.

See it if A really great show that takes you back to yesteryear. Very insightful about her amd oz. And its details.

Don't see it if If you do not like old fashion type of shows.

See it if you want to see a talented cast performing in a weak script.

Don't see it if you have seen the film Judy - the young Judy is good in this play, but the book needs work and some of the choices of songs were odd.

Also The script started off looking like it was going to be a story about Judy and her family, but their were extraneous scenes about her father, that didn't move the plot forward. The pacing was very slow. Many scenes that could have been cut that with a single line of exposition dialogue. The show began with a blurred clip of Eleanor Powell dancing, that had nothing to do with the show. The song "Smile" didn't have lyrics until the 1950's, so it was anachronistic to have it sung in the show. Hopefully this will get a major trim and a rewrite.... Read more Read less

See it if you are a fan of Garland or Oz.

Don't see it if you want a strong book - pretty straight-forward life story. Songs all sounded the same.

See it if you want to see a really well done, very old fashioned, MGM type musical

Don't see it if you need something original for your theater dollar

Also First, my lower score is probably because my driving thought while evaluating this was would someone pay $250+ for a ticket WHEN this transfers to Broadway. My answer is probably not enough people to pay the bills.

Second, my producer girlfriend would be having a sleepless night, if she saw this performance. Two missed sound cues and problems with the a flat would drive her crazy. Not really a big deal since this was the 2nd performance ever and the problems should be easily corrected. But it would drive some crazy.

This a very derivative show. Mostly classical songs. Some with clever new arrangements. Extraordinarily good singing and choreography. Big dance numbers. Very enjoyable, but probably not worth the price of a Broadway tkt. (will most remember Jayne Mansfield?) The crucifixion and resurrection scenes give the show a little power, but probably not enough.

See the show at Papermill in October and have a good time with talented performers.... Read more Read less

See it if Ruby Rukos and her right side profile nails it.

Don't see it if Some technical and theatrical rough spots.

See it if Loved this story behind the scenes of Oz. Songs were great. Acting great. A must see!

Don't see it if You do not like Judy Garland. Otherwise must see this

See it if like Judy Garland, old-time Hollywood musicals, big productions numbers. It's both fun and sentimental. Cast is fantastic

Don't see it if you don't like musicals of the 30's and 40's

See it if You enjoy well sung songs, great production values and terrific performances.

Don't see it if You want something fresh or new. However factual it may be, act 1 is essentially the same as Gypsy. The 2nd act is similar to Funny Girl.

See it if you want to see how Baby Frances Gumm became Judy Garland and all she had to go through to get there

Don't see it if you are looking for a Wizard of Oz rehash...there are ruby slippers and some references to it but that's all

See it if you know the story of Judy' s early life. Music is old standards. Ruby Rakos does a great job of bringing judy to life but not imitating

Don't see it if No original music. story is a little too sweet -we know how it ends- in this telling judy's whole life is affected by her gay dad's death

See it if you are a Papermill Playhouse supporter - altho this performance puts a supremely talented cast in a banal play.

Don't see it if . .. just don't see it. Not worth a night out.

See it if Someone gives you a free ticket. Honestly, this is just not worth your time

Don't see it if You are looking for an in depth joyful musical about Judy Garlands early life

Also Where do I begin. Great performances for Karen Mason and Max Von Essen but even those pros can’t lift this sad joyless misfire of a musical. The writing is terrible The same scene played over and over. These producers did nothing to show off this amazing talented genius of a performer. May this show Rest In Peace... Read more Read less

See it if You are a Judy fan You like movie musical history You enjoy TCM Movies

Don't see it if Not a fan of old movie musicals

See it if great dancing and singing makes a show for you.

Don't see it if a too long fragmented story won't appeal.

Also Ruby Rakos and Karen Mason are terrific. But since this is third time this show has been presented - the story should have been tightened up by now. Too many scenes of peripheral relationships that slow down the main story. Some of the new orchestrations slightly miss the mark.... Read more Read less

See it if you like movie star biopics with clever re-purposing of Judy Garland's many hit songs. For those who remember her and the studio system.

Don't see it if you have no idea who she is, the people in her career and what she is famous for.

See it if Seeing the movie Judy is insufficient for you or you cannot attend Broadway or Off Broadway shows

Don't see it if You want new insight into her early life; paying $10 for parking and a lot more for tickets annoys you.

Also Two pretty good, but far from Broadway level, dance numbers and good, but well short of Broadway level, singing for near Broadway prices.... Read more Read less

See it if You like Judy Garland. Interesting to learn more about her life, especially before the Wizard of Oz.

Don't see it if You are looking for the wizard of oz.

Also Songs weren’t overly memorable. Choreography saved it. Slow at parts and sometimes it jumped around too much.... Read more Read less

See it if you love Judy and the music of her early career. Ruby Rakos is a star in the making. Some of the best choreography I've seen in a long time.

Don't see it if you are looking for a profound or well-written take on her life.

See it if The story of Judys life is painful but this show uses songs and great singing to make it understanding and why things happened in her life

Don't see it if if you want to see a light comedy

See it if you are a fan of Judy Garland and old Hollywood and love a good tap dance number!

Don't see it if you want more "serious" topics. There is a place for musicals that are truthful, light and fun while also dealing with real topics.

See it if you love the early songs of Judy Garland in a big Broadway production

Don't see it if you are looking for contemporary Broadway-style songs

See it if you are interested in a biopic of early Judy Garland with a great score.

Don't see it if you are not interested in a topic that has been done several times with full knowledge of the eventual life spiral.

Also This overall rating was given more for the score and hummable songs than for the show itself. The show was essentially a 30-minute piece stretched to about two hours. However, the songs and performers provided wonderful entertainment for the entire time. Max Von Essen and Michael Wartella were absolutely superb... Read more Read less

See it if want a relatively saccharine telling of Garland's early days with fantastic vocals, superb choreography, and overtones of Oz throughout

Don't see it if expecting the density of big production numbers typically seen in "classic" MGM musicals