Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz NJ Reviews and Tickets

86%

(169 Reviews)

Positive

93%

Mixed

Negative

Members say

Entertaining, Great singing, Delightful, Great acting, Must see

About the Show

Paper Mill Playhouse's new musical chronicles Judy Garland’s early career from vaudeville baby to MGM teen star in the making, and features such classics as “Over the Rainbow” and “You Made Me Love You.”

From the show:

Before she burst onto the big screen as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Judy Garland was a young vaudeville trouper named Frances Gumm. In this highly anticipated new musical chronicling Garland’s early career from vaudeville baby to MGM teen star in the making, the road to Oz is paved with adversity. At its heart a story of love between a father and daughter, featuring such legendary songs as “Over the Rainbow,” “You Made Me Love You,” and “Everybody Sing,” Chasing Rainbows is a poignant coming-of-age tale about “the little girl with the big voice,” who went on to become one of the world’s most beloved entertainment icons.

Member Reviews (169)

Entertaining, Old fashioned, Great singing, Great music, Classic

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. Read more

Delightful, Light, Entertaining, Interesting story, Great singing

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.

Critic Reviews (14)

October 22nd, 2019

A.D. Amorosi

"Judy Garland Bio ‘Chasing Rainbows’ The biopic with Renée Zellweger is a perfect set-up for this new musical about Judy Garland's early years."
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October 9th, 2019

Hayley Levitt

"Judy Garland Finally Gets a Happy Ending in 'Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz': Garland's rise to fame as 'the girl next door' at MGM is onstage at Paper Mill Playhouse."
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October 7th, 2019

Marina Kennedy

"'CHASING RAINBOWS: THE ROAD TO OZ' at Paper Mill Playhouse-An Exhilarating New Musical Theatre Production"
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October 8th, 2019

Bob Rendell

"'Chasing Rainbows' is a lively, intelligently entertaining, 1930s jukebox musical. It is very well written, choreographed, directed and performed."
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October 9th, 2019

Simon Saltzman

"Whether you are fans of the Judy who...went down the yellow brick road in the 1939 classic, or of the incomparable adult superstar...this delightful new musical is clearly calculated to bring waves of laughter, an occasional tear and mostly appreciative applause. It does."
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October 11th, 2019

Steven Ross

"Overflowing with classic songs that are wound in and around the young MGM star's rise. it is in daddy's eyes and voice that we are being truly gifted by this musical. Max von Essen as the troubled father,..steals the show from under those Ruby shoes, giving the most nuanced portrayal on that big wide stage."
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October 7th, 2019

Suzanna Bowling

"'Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz'"
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October 9th, 2019

Patrick Maley

"'Chasing Rainbows' is a hollow Judy Garland story at Paper Mill: review"
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October 18th, 2019

Gwen Orel

"JUDY GARLAND FINDS HER WAY"
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October 8th, 2019

Karen Nowosad

"'A fabulous show where music, singing, and dancing all work together to tell a story. Fans of Judy Garland’s legacy will especially enjoy seeing this show. This is one of those musicals that wows the crowd but carries with it a true story with a lot of heart."
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