Jordan B. Stocksdale, David James, Emily Signor and Jeffrey Shankle are the fab four (Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow, Dorothy and Tin Man) in Toby’s production of 'The Wizard of Oz,' playing through June 7. Photo by Jeri Tidwell Photography

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MaryKate Brouillet as Glinda faces off with Tina Marie DeSimone as the Wicked Witch in 'The Wizard of Oz' at Toby’s Dinner Theatre. Photo by Jeri Tidwell Photography

As we all know by now, Dorothy is not in Kansas anymore.

Recent decades have revised Dorothy and Frank L. Baum’s fairytale series The Wizard of Oz. Diana Ross taught us to “ease on down the road” in the 1978 film The Wiz, and the 2003 Broadway musical Wicked presented a new take on good and evil that veers off from the original story and 1939 film.

This season, Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia presents the Broadway incarnation of Hollywood’s The Wizard of Oz in a manner reminiscent of the voices and movements of the original movie cast — with a few surprises.

At the same time, though, Toby’s production is a more intense version of the darker sides of the tale, with benighted forests of nets, disturbing sounds and ghostly images of the tornado.

In this show, directed by Mark Minnick, live sinister poppies and apple trees threaten Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion, the famous foursome who are on their way to Oz to procure a trip home, a brain, a heart and courage.

Performers channel famous actors

The performances are excellent, with Emily Signor presenting with utter sincerity Dorothy as an ingénue in the Land of Oz, after singing her beautiful rendition of “Over the Rainbow.”

David James is limber in his dance movements as Scarecrow, as is Jeffrey Shankle as the Tin Man — once he has been properly oiled, of course.

The standout performer is likely Jordan B. Stocksdale as the Cowardly Lion, imitating with uncanny accuracy the mannerisms and vocal patterns of the beloved Bert Lahr from the film. Robert Biedermann is wonderful in his avuncular dual roles as Professor Marvel and the Wizard of Oz.

MaryKate Brouillet makes for a sweet and charming Glinda the Good Witch, whereas Tina Marie DeSimone is delightfully wicked as both the Wicked Witch and Miss Gulch, Dorothy’s nemesis. In fact, in some poses and interactions, Glinda and the Wicked Witch of this stage version will remind viewers of Glinda and Elphaba in Wicked.

Familiar tunes and a new number

In addition to “Over the Rainbow,” audience members will enjoy the familiar tunes from the original 1939 film “(Follow the) Yellow Brick Road,” “We’re Off to See the Wizard,” “If I Only Had a Brain” and “If I Were King of the Forest.”

Yet it is in the lesser-known “Jitterbug” where the orchestra and the excellent choreography of director Minnick especially thrive.

The original film was produced during the swing era and its jitterbug dance craze, and one scene featuring jitterbug swing dancing was deleted from the final film.

In the Broadway version and Toby’s production, however, “Jitterbug” is restored, affording audiences an opportunity to view an otherwise unseen part of cinematic history. The soaring clarinet, wailing saxophone, screaming trumpet and drum solos testify to the musical prowess of Toby’s orchestra, superbly conducted by Ross Scott Rawlings.

“Jitterburg” takes on a spooky tone, with the large bug eyes of the jitterbug creatures resembling something out of a monster film. Because this and other scenes are more frightening than one might expect, the musical might present an intensely scary experience for young children.

The costumes, coordinated by Sarah King and Janine Sunday, switch from drab on the farm to exquisitely beautiful in the Land of Oz, reminding one of the film’s famous transition from black-and-white to color as Dorothy is transported from her Kansas farm to the fairytale land of her dreams.

The sets of Shane Lowry are highly effective, including a movable yellow brick road that follows Dorothy and her new friends in Oz.

Toby’s, as a dinner theater in the round, often finds clever ways to obviate complicated set structures, and this is true in this show. A stylized scene that finds the friends in a field of poppies with falling snow to break a sleep spell is especially memorable.

The production is so fine it could be said to be “defying gravity,” to borrow a song title from the Broadway musical Wicked.

In the words of Professor Marvel, “You can’t do these things without reaching out into the Infinite.”

The show runs through June 7 at Toby’s Dinner Theatre, located at 5900 Symphony Woods Rd., Columbia.

Depending on performance, tickets range from $84 to $92 for adults. People 65 and older pay $74 for Tuesday evening or any Wednesday performance; children 4 and older are $64 to $67.

Tickets are available from the box office by calling (410) 730-8311 or online via Ticketmaster (with a service fee).