GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER OF L. FRANK BAUM
GITA DOROTHY MORENA

Dr. Gita Dorothy Morena has dedicated her life to finding the pathway home. As an author, lecturer, and psychoanalyst, she shines as a beacon of light for all those traveling along the yellow brick road of life. 

Her great grandfather, L. Frank Baum, provides a rich tapestry of fairy tales which Dr. Morena draws upon in a variety of ways to exemplify her teachings. Her book, The Wisdom of Oz, stimulates readers to discover the brilliance of their own associations with the story, and find the wisdom, compassion and courage that lie within them. 

With the given name of Dorothy, Dr. Morena embodies the beloved heroine of her great grandfather. She encourages others to explore the mysterious realms of the inner world just as Dorothy traveled the magical territories of Oz.  

Matilda Gage, Baum’s mother in law and early suffragist, seems to whisper encouragement as Dr. Morena carries the fight for freedom into the inner realms of the psyche. You can find out more about her at www.gitamorena.com.

GRANDDAUGHTER OF JUDY GARLAND
VANESSA O’NEIL

Vanessa O’Neil is the granddaughter of Judy Garland (who played Dorothy in MGM’s The Wizard of Oz), Vanessa has chosen Chittenango – “where Oz all began!” -- to make her first appearance at an Oz or Garland festival. She was born in Los Angeles, CA in 1990; her mother is Judy’s daughter, international entertainer Lorna Luft, and her father was the rock’n’roll guitarist/songwriter/producer Jake Hooker. Vanessa grew up and went to school in the Los Angeles area and worked in hotel and hospitality management before segueing into fitness and training enterprises in the health and wellness industry. Most recently, she’s been enjoying life “being a wife and mom to my own family”: her husband, Southern California firefighter Patrick O’Neil, and their two sons, Logan, 9, and Kieran, 3. Representing her grandmother, Vanessa has been seen on “The Today Show” and in other television and internet interviews, and she is beginning a new career as an advocate for the professional and personal Judy Garland she never knew. “Grandma died two decades before I was born, but I have always felt so close to her. As I’ve grown, I’ve had an unwavering desire to connect with those people who’ve had their own devotion and compassion and love for her. Coming to Chittenango is a chance for me to share her joy -- and the joy of Oz! So, I’m on my own ‘quest’ to get the perspective of other people who care about and adore her, and who celebrate her incomparable legacy.”

WORLD’S PREEMINENT OZ AND JUDY GARLAND HISTORIAN/AUTHOR
JOHN FRICKE

John Fricke is widely regarded as the world’s preeminent Oz and Judy Garland historian/author. He's a two-time Emmy Award winner as co-producer of Garland TV documentaries; a Grammy Award nominee for “best album notes”; and his latest book — with Gabriel Gale — is THE ART OF OZ, which was published in 2021. John has written three books about Judy Garland, two about the MGM WIZARD OF OZ film, and two about the entire Oz phenomenon. His next title, WHITE CHRISTMAS: A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF THE CLASSIC HOLIDAY FILM, is due for publication in 2024 in celebration of that movie's 70th anniversary. John has served as OZ-Stravaganza! emcee since 1990. He has lectured at Hollywood's Turner Classic Movies Film Festival and at Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences; at New York City’s Museum of Modern Art; at France’s Deauville Film Festival; and at London’s National Film Theatre. He delivers the commentary tracks on eight Garland movie DVDs (including THE WIZARD OF OZ), and he has often appeared on TCM, The TODAY Show, CNN, and NPR.

OZ ILLUSTRATOR (AGES OF OZ SERIES & THE ART OF OZ)
GEORGE N. MAKRINOS
George N Makrinos AKA Gabriel Gale is the creator of the Ages of Oz series, the first two books of which were written by Lisa Fiedler and published by Simon & Schuster: A Fiery Friendship and A Dark Descent. His personal association with Oz and its citizens is described in his greeting at the onset of The Art of Oz, a new book of his illustrations, with text by John Fricke, afterword by Michael Patrick Hearn, and packaged by Jane Lahr for Rizzoli. Mr. Makrinos was born in Brooklyn, NY, where the Bay Ridge Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library provided his initial passage to Oz. He is a graduate of The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art and the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. His illustrated talks about Oz have delighted elementary, middle, and high school students from coast-to-coast; he has entertained all ages in similar appearances at bookstores throughout the country, as well as at the major national Oz festivals. Mr. Makrinos is now onto a new Ozian adventure in sunny southern California with details to come soon!

The Art of Oz book can be purchased at the All Things Oz Museum Gift Shop at https://www.shopallthingsoz.org/product/book-the-art-of-oz-witches-wizards-and-wonders-beyond-the-yellow-brick-road/454?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=true

WRITER, DIRECTOR, CINEMATOGRAPHER AND PRODUCER
MICHAEL WILLIAMS
Michael Williams is a writer, director, cinematographer, and producer known for OzLand (2015) and The Atoning (2017). Williams began creating short films in 2004 while in high school, and as a 2009 graduate of The University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor of Arts in Film, Williams was awarded the Top Film Student of 2009 Award.

Michael’s professional career in film began in 2007, and his credits range from assistant camera to director of photography on many independent short and feature-length films. After writing, directing, and producing over 20 short films of his own, he broke into the feature-length film territory with his debut, award-winning feature OzLand. The film went on to premiere and screen theatrically in Hollywood, CA before gaining distribution throughout the U.S. and U.K. 

OzLand has permanent representation in the form of an exhibit at the All Things Oz Museum in Chittenango, NY, the birthplace of author L. Frank Baum.

Williams' desire to tell complex stories visually draws him to pursuing a career as a visual storyteller. Williams writes, directs, and works as a cinematographer so that he can bring his passion for visual storytelling to every production giving the story a unique voice. Since January of 2019, Williams has served as the President of The Magnolia Independent Film Festival.

COMPOSER
STEVE MARGOSHES

Steve Margoshes composed the score for Fame-The Musical, the inspirational show about New York’s High School of the Performing Arts. Fame has played worldwide for 25 years, and is still going strong.

He has orchestrated many Broadway musicals, including Big River (Drama Desk Award), The Who’s Tommy (Drama Desk Award), Aida (by Elton John & Tim Rice), Smokey Joe’s Café, and Soul Doctor (Drama Desk nomination). He has contributed to many Jim Steinman recordings (including Bat Out of Hell), orchestrated Steinman’s musical Tanz der Vampire (directed by Roman Polanski and still running in Germany and Austria after 25 years), and has written special symphonic arrangements for Andrew Lloyd Webber. 

With Hair authors James Rado & Gerome Ragni he composed the musicals Sun and Jack Sound. Steve has composed for symphony, ballet, rock recordings, and songs in various styles in addition to his many-faceted shows. An extensive body of his “pops” pieces for orchestra was recorded by the Budapest Symphony on Hungaraton & Albany Records. This Is Forever, an after-life piano rhapsody, featured Steve at the piano with the orchestra. The solo piano version (also with Steve performing) was choreographed by Jacqulyn Buglisi & presented at the Joyce Theater NYC as part of the 20th anniversary of Buglisi Dance Theatre. 

Also among the body of work recorded in Budapest is American Parade, which was performed by the West Point Army Band and became the subject of a documentary (of the same name) by filmmaker Frank Basile.

Steve is now writing original OZ-themed songs, and as such, is indeed the Songsmith of Oz! Steve will be discussing the project this year at the festival.