‘The Wizard of Oz’ At Sphere Inspired Lorna Luft To Share Stories From Behind The Scenes

In an upcoming two-night event at The Venetian in Las Vegas, Lorna Luft invites audiences behind the curtain of one of Hollywood’s most beloved films, “The Wizard of Oz.” Inspired after viewing the movie reimagined at Sphere, Luft decided it was time to share the rarely told stories about how the iconic film was actually made and what it means to her family. 

During the “Stories of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz” event, Luft blends personal memories of her famous mother, Judy Garland, with rare photos and behind-the-scenes details. Garland, who was just 16 years old when she took on the coveted role of Dorothy, is in the center of the spotlight. 

Lorna Luft sat down with The Blast to share some insight into her upcoming shows - Saturday, March 14 and Sunday, March 15 at The Venetian - as well as talk about her thoughts on the movie being shown at Sphere. 

Back in August, Luft and her family visited Las Vegas to attend a showing of “The Wizard of Oz” at Sphere. She said that experience sparked an idea that would bring her back to Vegas for two shows this weekend. 

“I was so taken aback by the scope and the enormity of what they had done with this movie, how people were moved and how people came up to me after and said, ‘I’ve never seen anything like that in my life.’ And I thought, I wonder if they know how it was made,” Luft told The Blast exclusively. “I called my agent and said, ‘I’ve got this idea. What would happen if I wanted to do a show at The Venetian about how this movie was made?’”

From that call, her idea began to take shape and this weekend, fans can attend “Stories of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz” to hear untold stories and see behind-the-scenes photos from the set. 

“I have the pictures of all my mom’s original hair and makeup tests and all the characters’ hair and makeup tests,” Luft shared. “And I don’t think that people know that there were five directors on this movie, so the yellow brick road wasn’t as smooth sailing as when you see it at Sphere. It had some pretty good speed bumps in it, and that’s the story that I want to tell through the pictures you’ll see. It’s just a fascinating story, because I don’t think people today would ever think, how did that happen? There was no CGI, it was all done by hand.”

For Luft, seeing the iconic film at Sphere in Las Vegas was a moment in time, not only for her, but for her whole family.

"It's such an incredible venue and such an incredible movie coming together. They kept it very insulated and I didn't now what I was going to see. I had my family with me, and my daughter and my son and their children were all there," Luft told The Blast. "I was just taken back by the Sphere. It's breathtaking."

Luft recalls her daughter telling her just before the movie began that she wasn't going to cry, but once the movie started, she "burst into tears immediately."

"I just thought it was so beautiful and staggering and how they  made you feel that you were in the movie," Luft shared. "Getting apples and how they wove in all the CGI and the AI and all that. They never really touched the message of the movie and that's what I was so grateful for because I think of the love that everyone has for the movie."

When asked if she has a favorite behind-the-scenes moment, Luft said, "No, because that would make all the others not my favorite."

But with that said, she did share one that sticks out the most for her.

"I talk a lot about when Bert Lahr comes bouncing out of the forest and my mom smacks him on the nose," she said. "He made her laugh so hard she ruined a couple of takes. And how Victor Fleming, the director had to reprimand her. If you watch the movie, you can see that her bottom lip starts to quiver just a little bit at Bert Lahr and she holds Toto up to her face."

She added that one time, her daughter called her and asked if "grandma holds the dog up to her face to hide her laughing?"

Luft shared that she's excited for her two events in Las Vegas and how the events tie into the Sphere showing the iconic film.

"What excited me was the fact that all these people have gone to Sphere to see the movie and that to me is just overwhelming," she said. "I just think it's fantastic. I've heard from people and read posts about their feelings about that so it will be nice for me to be able to not only tell this story about how it was made, but then also do the Q&A, so they can ask me questions."

When talking about Garland, Luft shared that her mom had "an incredibly brilliant sense of humor, photogenic memory, and she was just remarkable."

"And I think people saw that through her television and her movies and her recordings and all that, but I didn't know a legend or a star. I knew my mom, the lady in the kitchen in the white bathrobe. When you grow up in a household of someone famous, it doesn't occur to you that they're famous."

And while many thought watching "The Wizard of Oz" at Sphere could be difficult for Luft, she said it was nothing but "joy" for her.

Luft shared her Sphere experience on her Instagram page back in August after seeing the film.

"Thursday night, was one of the most incredible nights I've had in my life! My entire family & I went to the world premiere of #WOZatSphere! Getting to be there with them & see it through my grandchildren's eyes, was the greatest of gifts," she began her caption. "Let me tell you, I know a lot of you think you've seen #theWizardOfOz; but if you haven't seen this @sphereVegas, you haven't seen anything yet!"

Her caption went on to share that her "kids & 4 grandchildren" were with her and "every one of us was blown away."

"I know my mom would love & get such a kick out of this new experience, and be so appreciative of how hard everyone worked to make sure the original spirit of the film & music were upheld & elevated," her caption continued. "My family & I have been lucky enough to have an Oz experience of our own since birth...and now, I am so thrilled to see how all of you will get to have your own Oz experience too thanks to #WizardofOz @sphereVegas! My advice is to go! As soon + as often as you can, go!"

She concluded her caption to share, "This is something I will never forget, my family will never forget. It is generational; and not just for our family, but for you & your loved ones too!"

For more information on Lorna Luft's upcoming events, visit The Venetian Resort Las Vegas' website, or call 866-641-7469.