How Far Out Should We Go?

WOz is a classic, and when folks come to see it they expect to experience a live version of the MGM film. No matter that film and theatre are different creatures; if Dorothy isn't wearing the blue gingham dress, there may be a riot. Here's a question for anyone out there reading: how far away from MGM dare we go? As a director, I don't want to reproduce someone else's work. I'd rather try to help folks to see a classic through a new set of lenses. On the other hand, most folks are pretty conservative when it comes to their childhood favorites. Certainly sets and costumes are places to play around a bit. I'm also interested in creative use of our space. One of the students noted that our stage is about 1/3 the size of a few other schools in the area. How might we push out beyond the apron and into the house without overwhelming the band, the audience, or the budget?