Sources: Karin Westman, 785-532-2190, westmank@k-state.edu;
and Phil Nel, 785-532-2165, philnel@k-state.edu
Web site: http://www.ksu.edu/english/programs/childlit/oz/
News release prepared by: Katie Mayes, 785-532-6415, kmayes@k-state.edu

Monday, Sept. 21, 2009

FOLLOW THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD TO K-STATE FOR 'RECREATING OZ' CONFERENCE OCT. 3

MANHATTAN -- The International Wizard of Oz Club is bringing its national convention to Kansas, and Kansas State University's department of English is helping with the "Recreating Oz" conference Saturday, Oct. 3.

Conference presentations, which will go on throughout the day, will explore the transformation of Frank Baum's classic Oz tales and include: "Which Witch?: The Incredible Makeover of Glinda, the Good Witch of the North"; "Finding Oz: How L. Frank Baum Discovered the Great American Story"; "Oz and Adaptation: The Wicked Aesthetic Delights of Oz Revisions,"; and "A Heroine's Unmaking: The Diminishing Role of Dorothy in Four Tales of Oz."

"When the International Wizard of Oz Club approached us about hosting the group's annual convention, we knew that a one-day Oz conference would offer a great opportunity for members of the K-State campus and Manhattan community to celebrate Baum's famous series and its many adaptations for film and comics," said Karin Westman, head of K-State's department of English.

Special conference guests Eric Shanower and Skottie Young, creators of the new Marvel comic "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," will present a free public lecture on the history of Oz comics and the development of their own comic at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 3 in the ballroom of the K-State Alumni Center. A book signing will follow.

"Skottie Young and Eric Shanower's edgy, dark comic-book adaptation of Baum's 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' makes us see this familiar story anew," said Phil Nel, director of K-State's program in children's literature. "It will be -- and is already being -- often discussed and hailed as an important new work. It's an honor to have them here at K-State."

Registration for the conference is free for K-State students and $40 for K-State faculty, staff and members of the Manhattan community. More information about additional sessions and registration is available online at http://www.k-state.edu/english/programs/childlit/oz/

"Recreating Oz" is sponsored by K-State's department of English, Children's and Adolescent Literature Community, the office of the president and Hale Library. The one-day conference is part of the International Wizard of Oz Club's national conference Oct. 2-4, and also is being held in conjunction with Oztoberfest in Wamego Oct. 3-4.