Cincinnati doesn’t have a theater scene that compares to that of New York or Chicago or the Twin Cities. But for a city our size, we have a ton of theater. I see 60-70 local productions annually. Are there enough serious theatergoers in Greater Cincinnati to support more?  

As a kid, I watched "The Wizard of Oz" annually on TV. The 1939 film is a classic, and its stars, including Judy Garland as Dorothy, songs and lines are iconic. Now it's been turned into a stage musical. Unfortunately, a touring version, at the Aronoff for a two-week run, never gets beyond reproducing the film.   

Those pedagogical purposes, however, don't mean there's not solid entertainment on area campuses. Of course, you might have to suspend your disbelief when a 20-year-old plays Willy Loman, but by and large scripts are chosen as learning experiences...  

When Reefer Madness: The Musical is cooking, it cooks. Know Theatre is kick-starting its season with a rowdy, just-for-the-hell-of-it musical that decries (wink, wink) the evils of smoking marijuana. Review by Tom McElfresh. 8 p.m. tonight.