Bob Cooner, a Sacramento-based playwright and director, is set to direct his original play “Finding Oz” at The Acting Company in Yuba City this spring. Photo courtesy of Bob Cooner

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - A new original play exploring the life behind one of America’s most enduring stories is coming to The Acting Company in Yuba City, as auditions open for “Finding Oz,” written and directed by Sacramento playwright Bob Cooner. Auditions were scheduled for April 13 and 14, with performances planned for May 29 through June 21.

“Finding Oz” traces the life of L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, blending biography with theatrical storytelling as characters from Oz emerge alongside moments from Baum’s real life.

“It’s all about how his life informs his creation of his masterwork,” Cooner said. “We see these elements of Oz throughout his life.”

The play follows Baum from childhood in the 1870s through 1900, when his landmark novel was published, weaving together personal struggles, historical context and imagination. Cooner described it as “a great American story” of perseverance, shaped by repeated failure before success.

“It’s ‘try, try, try again,’” he said. “He tries, he fails… and he doesn’t write The Wizard of Oz until he’s in his mid-40s.”

A longtime theater artist, Cooner said his interest in storytelling began early.

“From the time I was a little kid, I wanted to do plays and write plays,” he said, recalling how he persuaded teachers to stage his work as a student.

He later trained as an actor in Houston and New York City and performed professionally into his early 30s before stepping away from acting. After earning a master’s degree in education, he spent years teaching high school English while continuing to direct and work in theater.

Cooner eventually returned to playwriting, beginning with a Christmas production at the Woodland Opera House. Since then, he estimates he has written 15 to 20 plays, with productions staged locally and across the country. Several have been published, with “Finding Oz” set for publication later this summer.

“This will be the premiere,” he said. “You’re getting a pre-publishing.”

The opportunity to bring the show to Yuba City came through both creative interest and existing connections. Cooner has worked extensively at the Woodland Opera House and previously collaborated with Diane Haas, president of The Acting Company.

“She’s been the props person on some shows that I’ve directed and has just done a fantastic job,” he said. “I think she’s a brilliant props person.”

In developing the play, Cooner said he was drawn to Baum’s life beyond the familiar 1939 film adaptation. His research revealed a story marked by ambition, instability and reinvention — from failed businesses in the Dakotas to a struggling newspaper and shifting financial fortunes.

“He’s kind of a privileged kid, but then he loses that privilege… then gets some back, then loses it again,” Cooner said.

The play also explores Baum’s involvement in the social issues of his time, including his support for women’s suffrage and his complex, sometimes contradictory views during conflicts involving Native American communities.

Set against post–Civil War America, the story incorporates influences such as the Chicago World’s Fair, which helped inspire Baum’s vision of the Emerald City. While not strictly allegorical, Cooner said familiar themes from Oz — courage, heart and intellect — appear throughout Baum’s life.

“You see the germs of them all the way through,” he said. “This idea of needing courage, of needing heart, of having to use your brain… finding home.”

The production is designed as an ensemble piece, with nine actors portraying multiple roles.

“I’m looking for people who can kind of dive into creating these different unique characters,” Cooner said.

For Cooner, the production also marks his directorial debut at The Acting Company, bringing both excitement and some uncertainty.

“I’m really excited about directing my own play,” he said. “But also… I’m a little nervous about it just because it’ll be new for me.”