Follow the yellow brick road as one of America`s favorite stories is brought to life.”The Wizard of Oz” will be brought to Columbus at the Ohio Theatre, Aug. 28 through Sept. 6, by COLD-EEZE, as part of the Fifth Third Bank Broadway Series.Columbus is one of many stops on an annual multi-city tour throughout the United States and Canada. The tour follows the successful 1997 production at Madison Square Garden in New York City.” `The Wizard Of Oz` is a great story as retold by our cast,” Tim Hawkins, producer of the show and head of Madison Square Garden Productions, said at a local June press conference.The cast of the musical includes Judith McCauley as Glinda the Good Witch/Aunt Em, Dirk Lumbard as the Tin Man, Lara Teeter as the Scarecrow, Francis Ruivivar as the Cowardly Lion, Eartha Kitt as the Wicked Witch of the West, Jessica Grove as Dorothy and Mickey Rooney as the Wizard.Grove, 16, is a Columbus native entering her junior year as an honor student at Hillard Davidson High School. Her theater credits include “The Turn of the Screw” at the Manhattan School of Music, “Oliver!” national tour, as well as another production of “The Wizard of Oz.” “I just want to thank all the people who have helped my dreams come true here in Columbus,” Grove said tearfully at the press conference.”The Wizard of Oz” was first published in 1898 by Lyman Baum, a Chicago storyteller. It launched a series of best-selling children`s books, and in 1939 became a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film featuring Judy Garland as Dorothy. It has sold millions of videotapes and has been shown on television more than any film in history.”It is the only picture to rival the lastingness of `Gone With the Wind,`” Rooney said at the press conference.Rooney, who made his debut at 18 months of age, has starred in more than 50 feature films and has been nominated twice for an Academy Award. His film credits include “National Velvet,” “Pete`s Dragon” and the “Andy Hardy” series.Rooney called “The Wizard of Oz” the greatest theatrical production that has ever been done on any stage in the world and the epitome of his theatrical career.”It brings back the memories of what you were when you were a child,” Rooney said. “When the child in you dies, that`s when you start to die.”Kitt took over the role of the Wicked Witch of the West after Roseanne played the role in the `97 production. Kitt has been nominated for a Tony Award and Grammy. While Kitt has had an extensive career on stage, screen and cabaret, she is most famous for her role as Catwoman on the “Batman” television show.In collaboration with the show, Habitat for Humanity will be launching the “No Place Like Home” fund-raiser on Aug. 28. The donations will go towards building homes in the community.Tickets for “The Wizard of Oz” can be purchased at the Palace Theatre box office or through TicketMaster.