LAS VEGAS – Lorna Luft brushed aside any doubts about how her legendary mother, Judy Garland, would have felt about “The Wizard of Oz” at the Sphere.
The actress-singer Luft, 72, brought her two grown children and four grandchildren to the Aug. 28 “Wizard of Oz” premiere at Las Vegas’ Sphere to witness the nearly $100 million reimagining of the 1939 classic starring Garland, then 16, as Dorothy. The iconic film now plays across the venue’s 160,000-square-foot, 16K-resolution LED screen that wraps over and around the audience.
“We’re all here, the whole family,” Luft told USA TODAY on the yellow carpet, adding her half-sister, Liza Minnelli — from Garland’s marriage to director Vincente Minnelli — was “completely supportive” of the project which has drawn some criticism over the use of AI to enhance the effects.
Lorna Luft attends the premiere of “The Wizard of Oz at Sphere” on August 28.
“My mother would have loved this, absolutely,” said Luft. “I hope there’s a standing ovation during ‘Over the Rainbow.’“
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That reaction did not quite happen during the crystal clear, super-screen-sized recreation of Garland’s iconic screen song. But the new version touched down like a Kansas tornado for the vocally appreciative audience that included an eclectic group of Hollywood and music stars including Kris Jenner, Joe Manganiello, Rosanna Arquette, Skylar Astin and Queen guitarist Brian May.
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“Wicked” star Marissa Bode, the only representative from the hit revisionist musical now filming its second installment, celebrated her 25th birthday at the Sphere premiere. “I was like, a trip to Vegas to watch the ‘Wizard of Oz’ like this — I’m in,” said Bode.
Hundreds of attendees dressed as Dorothy and her Yellow Brick Road companions — the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion. James Dolan, CEO of Sphere Entertainment, appeared dressed as the Wizard to open the film.
“I’m pretty sure this is a night you’ll never forget,” Dolan told the crowd. “We’re off to see the Wizard. For the first time, you’re going to feel like you’re inside ‘The Wizard of Oz.'”
The audience began reacting with shocked and outspoken appreciation from the very first scene — simply the credits splayed across the gargantuan screen. But the magnification of the iconic Kansas tornado is the real star, swirling papers around the auditorium seemingly from the screen. The skies darken and the winds from powerful fans transforms the scene into a true batten-down-the hatches unforgettable moment. After the movie, actress Tia Carrere was spotted holding her hand to her head in awe talking about making it through the simulated natural disaster.
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Enhanced with AI-generated visuals, the 77-minute Sphere version adds flourishes, including the Wicked Witch of the West broom-writing “Surrender Dorothy — Or Die” (the “Or Die” was cut from the original film). Some original elements were trimmed from the shortened Sphere movie, including the Cowardly Lion’s entire second song, “If I Were King of the Forest.”
But ruby-red-slipper-wearing Ryan Jay, a self-described Oz historian from Milwaukee, didn’t dwell over the lost song. Jay said he was blown away after attending with three other fellow historians who were critically examining the Sphere version of their cherished film.
“This is our Super Bowl,” said Jay, who already shelled out for a return ticket despite prices starting at a not-in-Kansas-anymore price of $104. “I’m coming back tomorrow.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Inside ‘Wizard of Oz’ at Sphere opening night with celebrities, fans
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