Following the Yellow Brick Road -- the End of the Road

There's no place like home.  And tonight, we finally return to Kansas, as we reach the conclusion of the 1995 TNT special, The Wizard of Oz in Concert:  Dreams Come True.

In this final segment, the story wraps up, we get to hear a rambunctious performance of "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead" from the legendary Ronnie Specter, but most of all there's the wonderful finale. 

Everyone of the truly all star cast returns on stage, and joy reigns, as most everyone gets their solo moment singing a part of...oh, you know what they sing, including the musicians David Sanborn and Dr. John.  

There's also a terrific curtain call, where everyone in the audience most likely expected when they took their seats to be applauding wildly for their favorite Big Star rockers, but instead (most likely to their surprise) the biggest cheers of the night are for the unknown singer they'd never heard of when the evening started, Jewel.

There are a few nice touches, as well.  I love after Phoebe Snow finishes her moment, she scrunches up with pleasure, almost like a little kid.  And watching Jewel joyfully applauding all her fellow-performers throughout the bows, and a lovely moment when they cut to the audience cheering and, what seems symbolic of the full crowd's reaction, there's a little boy on his father's shoulder, almost in joyful heaven.  There's one other moment I like that's unfortunately cut off in this particular video, but you can see it here -- when everyone walks off, and Roger Daltrey and Joel Grey pass by the chorus and stop to applaud them.

(And again, if you're just joining the festivities now, you can jump here to find out more about this benefit concert and watch the six parts from the beginning.)

And with that, we now conclude the Elisberg Industries International Film Festival.