Mountain Play: The Wizard of Oz
Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre, Mount Tamalpais State Park · Theater / Outdoor / Family
Mountain Play: The Wizard of Oz — Follow the Yellow Brick Road to One of Marin's Most Magical Outdoor Theaters
There are theater experiences, and then there is the Mountain Play — a Marin County tradition for more than a century that turns a mountaintop amphitheater into one of the most unforgettable stages in California. In 2026, the Mountain Play returns for its 112th season with The Wizard of Oz, a full-scale outdoor production of L. Frank Baum's beloved classic at the Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre high on the slopes of Mount Tamalpais. After a hiatus in 2025, Dorothy, Toto, and the whole company are back — and so is the ritual that generations of Bay Area families have made part of their summer.
This is not indoor theater transplanted outdoors. The Mountain Play is its own thing: a half-day outing that blends live musical theater, picnic blankets, hiking boots, fog and sunshine, and an audience that knows when to sing along. The setting is as much a character as any on stage — redwood and bay views, open sky, and the particular magic of watching a story unfold with Marin spread out below you.
2026 Performance Dates — All Shows at 1:00 PM
Performances take place at 1:00 PM on Sunday, June 7 (opening day); Saturday, June 13 (Sing-Along Saturday); Sunday, June 14; and Sunday, June 21. The June 13 matinee is the year's designated sing-along performance — the crowd is encouraged to join in on the MGM classics, and the energy is especially joyful.
The Show — MGM Songs in a Mountaintop Amphitheater
This stage adaptation features the iconic score from the MGM film — "Over the Rainbow," "We're Off to See the Wizard," "If I Only Had a Brain," and the rest — in a production directed by Dyan McBride with music direction by Jon Gallo and choreography by Meredith Joelle Charlson. Young Dorothy Gale's journey from Kansas to the Land of Oz lands differently when you are sitting on a mountain with the Pacific in the distance. It is family-friendly, visually rich, and built for audiences who grew up with the film.
Getting There — Shuttles, Parking & Planning Your Arrival
Most attendees take the Mountain Play shuttle buses from Mill Valley rather than driving all the way to the amphitheater. Shuttles run from Tamalpais High School on Miller Avenue and the Shoreline parking lot at 100 Shoreline Highway, with morning departures beginning around 9:30 AM and the last bus up the mountain typically leaving by 11:45 AM. Return shuttles run after the show. Morning shuttle fares are $10 for adults and $5 for youth ages 4–25 (youth ride free on opening day, June 7); the return trip is free. Cars can be parked at shuttle lots all day at no charge.
Limited parking is also available closer to the theater, including at the old Air Force Station lots on Mount Tam — reserve in advance when possible, as spaces fill quickly. Carpooling is strongly encouraged. However you arrive, plan to be on the mountain well before the 1:00 PM curtain. The ride up, finding your seats, and settling in with lunch is part of the experience.
Tickets & Seating Options
General seating is first come, first served in the amphitheater's sun and shaded upper sections — $50 adults, $25 youth ages 4–25. Children 3 and under are always free. On opening day (June 7), youth ages 4–25 are admitted free. Reserved seating tiers (Director Circle, James Dunn Sun Circle, and Club Circle) include cushioned stadium seats and priority shuttle exit passes, with prices from $60–$110 depending on section and age. A $3.75 Mount Tamalpais State Park access fee applies to each ticket. Group discounts are available for parties of 10 or more via promo code on the Mountain Play website. Ticket prices increase by $5 at the gate — buy ahead when you can.
What To Bring
Dress in layers — Mount Tam weather can shift from warm sunshine to cool fog in an afternoon. Bring sunscreen, a hat, blankets or low chairs if you like, and a picnic (or pre-order a box lunch through Mountain Play). Many families make a full day of it: shuttle up, lunch on the grass, the show, and the ride back down through the redwoods.
A Marin Tradition Worth the Trip
The Mountain Play Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has kept this institution alive since 1913. Attending is a direct investment in one of the county's most distinctive cultural assets — outdoor theater on a mountain that belongs to everyone.
Cushing Memorial Amphitheatre, East Ridgecrest Boulevard, Mount Tamalpais State Park, CA Mountain Play Association · (415) 383-1100 · mountainplay.org
2026 performances June 7, 13, 14 & 21 at 1:00 PM · Sing-Along Saturday June 13 · General seating from $50 adults / $25 youth · Youth free on opening day June 7 · Shuttles from Mill Valley
Local tip: Book tickets and shuttle parking early — especially for Sing-Along Saturday on June 13. Take the morning shuttle, bring a real picnic, and stay through the final number. If you have never done the Mountain Play before, treat it as a half-day adventure, not just a show. The mountain, the crowd, and the sing-along moments are half the magic.