Parents Raise Concerns Over ‘Wizard of Oz’ Performance at Memphis Theater
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Several Memphis-area parents are raising concerns about a recent production of The Wizard of Oz at Playhouse on the Square, alleging that the children’s performance included unexpected content they say was inappropriate for young audiences.
The complaints were first raised publicly Monday morning on the KWAM News Radio, after parents contacted the program describing their experiences at a daytime performance marketed toward families and children.
According to parents who attended the show with their children, the production included scenes featuring male performers wearing dresses, which they described as resembling a drag performance. Parents said they were not notified in advance that the classic children’s story would be presented in what they characterized as a “progressive reinterpretation.”
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“I had no idea they would turn a children’s play into a vehicle for a drag show, or we would have stayed home,” one parent wrote in a message shared on the program. “There were multiple scenes of men in dresses. This was not for comedic effect, but clearly part of the worldview of the theater.”
The parent specifically cited a scene involving poppies, claiming it featured “large men with beards wearing red silk dresses.” The parent added that the performance took place during a daytime show attended by elementary-age children.
Multiple parents reportedly contacted the radio station with similar complaints. KWAM reached out to Playhouse on the Square on December 24 seeking comment and clarification but had not received a response as of Monday morning.
Playhouse on the Square’s website describes The Wizard of Oz as a family-friendly production and does not list content warnings or advisories. The theater also promoted special children’s programming tied to the show.
The theater’s website includes a mission statement emphasizing diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as a land acknowledgment recognizing Indigenous tribes historically connected to the region.
On air, the host questioned whether the theater had an obligation to provide advance notice to parents about potentially controversial content, particularly when performances are marketed to children.
“If parents know what they’re walking into, they can make an informed decision,” KWAM owner Todd Starnes said. “But when there’s no warning, families feel blindsided.”
The host emphasized that the issue was not whether adult-oriented productions should exist, but whether children’s performances should include content that some parents may find objectionable without prior disclosure.
Parents who contacted the show said they hope the theater will clarify its policies and provide clearer guidance to families attending future productions.
“Otherwise, moms may end up having to explain to your children why there are big, burly, hairy men wearing dresses and prancing across the stage,” Starnes said.
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