Theres-No-Place-Like-Starlight-for-The-Wizard-of-Oz.php

There's No Place Like Starlight for The Wizard of Oz

• Community
• 06/01/2026

For nearly 60 years, summer at Rock Valley College has meant gathering under the stars for unforgettable stories, music, and community.

This summer, RVC Starlight Theatre opens its landmark 60th anniversary season with one of the most beloved musicals of all time — The Wizard of Oz.

Running June 3–6 and July 8–12, the production invites audiences to follow Dorothy Gale and her loyal dog Toto as a Kansas tornado carries them into the magical Land of Oz. Along the Yellow Brick Road, Dorothy befriends a Scarecrow searching for a brain, a Tin Man longing for a heart, and a Cowardly Lion hoping to find courage. Together, they journey to the Emerald City in search of the mysterious Wizard.

Filled with iconic songs like “Over the Rainbow” and “If I Only Had a Brain,” the production celebrates friendship, bravery, imagination, and the enduring reminder that “there’s no place like home.”

“If you are like me, The Wizard of Oz brings on immense nostalgia,” director Rebecca Jensen said. “The starting notes of the overture instantly take you somewhere else entirely — somewhere that feels like home.”

But Jensen says the story’s message continues to resonate far beyond its familiar songs and characters.

“The Wizard of Oz is more than just a beloved classic; it’s a story about finding courage when you feel afraid, finding friends when you feel the most alone, and finding the strength to believe in yourself when the journey feels impossible,” Jensen said. “For our community, it’s also a reminder that home isn’t a place — it’s the people and places that lift us up. That’s what Starlight has always been.”

The production also marks Jensen’s MainStage directorial debut during a milestone season for the theatre.

“This is my MainStage directorial debut, and I couldn’t have asked for a better show or a better season to step into it,” Jensen said. “This cast spans every age and experience level — brand new faces alongside people who’ve called this stage home for decades — and for a 60th Anniversary season, that feels exactly right.”

Jensen said bringing the production to life has been a true collaboration among performers, designers, musicians, crew members, and volunteers.

As Starlight Theatre celebrates six decades of performances in Rockford, The Wizard of Oz serves as a fitting opening to the anniversary season — a production rooted in wonder, connection, and the magic of community.

“Your presence here, joining us for The Wizard of Oz and Starlight’s 60th season, is what completes the experience and makes you part of the Starlight family,” Jensen said. “We hope you feel like you belong here and that you leave tonight with a little more magic than you came with. Because in the end, there truly is no place like home.”

For more information about Starlight's 60th anniversary or to purchase tickets, visit Starlight Theatre.

“Bringing this timeless story to life with our Starlight family is exactly what community theatre is all about: creating something magical together that celebrates hope, imagination, family and the power of coming home."

Rebecca Jensen, Director, The Wizard of Oz