"Self-evidently the work of a well-informed fan, [Hit the Bricks] rejoices in the possibilities of its expanded universe with a panoply of familiar characters who are true to their original appearances."

-Nick Campbell, The Baum Bugle See what the fuss is about: http://www.hitthebricks.com

Did you catch us on Oz Talk Live? Check it out:

CHARACTER FILES: PASTORIA II First Appearance: The Marvelous Land of Oz (mentioned) Portrayed By: Benji Buckley

The frail young king of Oz who was poisoned by the Wicked Witches just before the Wizard came to Oz.

Pastoria's parents and older brother were all struck down leaving him alone to rule. Pastoria was already sickly and never suited for such stress, so it wasn't long before he was conquered by the Witches. Still, in his short time on the throne he ruled with unmatched compassion. In his dying moments, his wish that Oz be protected manifested in the birth of a half-fairy/half-human offspring: Ozma.

You can hear his story in the new intermission special.

CHARACTER FILES: The Swynes First Appearance: The Tin Woodman of Oz Portrayed By: Marnie Warner (@marniemcflyva) and Josh Rubino

A newlywed pair of pigs who honeymooned on the isle of Teenty-Went. After meeting OZ on his balloon expeditions, they made him promise to come back for any future children they may have in order to personally tutor them.

You can hear their story in the new intermission special.

CHARACTER FILES: Mr. Smith First Appearance: Ozma of Oz (mentioned) Portrayed By: Karim Kronfli

An incredibly talented artist and who worked with his partner, Mr. Tinker, for years in the Land of Ev as the royal inventors and was one of Jacoby's fathers.

One of Smith's many ridiculous experiments had him cross paths with Oscar Diggs, the young magician who would grow to become the Wizard of Oz. Smith seems to bob in and out of absurd situations and never quite pops up when or where you think he will. Smith fell into a life-like painting of the sea he was making, and never resurfaced.

You can hear his story in the new intermission special.

CHARACTER FILES: OSCAR (OZ) DIGGS First Appearance: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Portrayed By: Christopher Dole

The Wizard in his younger years. Oscar was a circus magician with a penchant for trouble who ran away from home in a hot air balloon.

After many misadventures, Oscar found his way to the land of Oz in the midst of a great war and when the locals saw his balloon had his initials on it, they hailed him a great Wizard and savior. Over the years, OZ became a good man and tried to lead the people into an age of peace and prosperity. He is one of many high-ranking officials who have vanished recently and his wisdom is sorely needed.

You can hear his story in the new intermission special.

A word from Ella Watts:

"Ok holy crap, @HitTheBricksPod is easily one of the best g*dd*mn #AudioFiction shows I’ve listened to in the last year - the performances are phenomenal, the sound design is fantastic, the music is brilliant!! Check it out!! Right now!!!"

"…Hit The Bricks is focused on creating an original, heartfelt experience that speaks to the sense of wonder in Baum’s original narrative. Creator PJ Scott-Blankenship is an expert in everything Oz, and that passion shines through in the script, in their voice-acting as Wallace, and in the sound and music cues. Jessi and Wallace’s journey is backed by all-original music by Kathryn Hoss that convey Jessi’s anxiety and Wallace’s awe, and connects the sensations of childhood nostalgia with the more restless desires of adulthood. And sound designer Ester Ellis creates a soundscape so realistic you could touch Oz’s emerald glass buildings."- Elena Fernández Collins, The A.V. Club

"Jessi Hugson is a modern Dorothy lost and wandering through this world and Oz in a network of dreams. Readers of the Oz series who listen to this new audio drama will be pleased to find the Little Pink Bear (Lost Princess of Oz), Button-Bright (Road to Oz), the Wise Donkey and the Foolish Owl (Patchwork Girl of Oz) in the pilot story. From taking flight with the Magic Umbrella, to hearing advice lifted straight from the pages of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, PJ Scott-Blankenship creatively pulls the Oz of L. Frank Baum into today's times. Mysteries and adventures are clearly just around the corner -- one I strongly suspect will be paved with yellow bricks." - Jane Albright, President of the International Wizard of Oz Club

CHARACTER FILES: POLYCHROME First Appearance: The Road to Oz Portrayed By: Ishani Kanetkar

A fairy who’s the living personification of the colors of the rainbow. In her youth, Poly would carelessly fall off of the Rainbow and would be stranded time-and-again on land. These days, however, she’s matured into a capable resistance member.

Find out what she's been up to at http://hitthebricks.com/listen

CHARACTER FILES: EUREKA

First Appearance: Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz Portrayed By: Kristin DiMercurio Dorothy’s prissy and rude cat. Eureka wants nothing more than for life to return to normal so she can live a pampered existence inside the palace.

CHARACTER FILES: JACK PUMPKINHEAD

First Appearance: The Marvelous Land of Oz Portrayed By: David Michmerhuizen

Ozma’s woebegone “son." A living creation of sticks that Ozma built as a prank but was then brought to life. Jack is a beloved figure in Oz, docile and clumsy and always good for a laugh. Or at least...he used to be. When half of Oz vanished, Jack was the only clear heir to the throne, but his head has long-passed spoiled and as a result Jack’s become a puppet ruler.

CHARACTER FILES MR. TINKER (JACOBY'S DAD)

First Appearance: Ozma of Oz (Mentioned) Portrayed By: Morgan Givens An inventor from the Land of Ev who fled to the moon when the love of his life, Mr. Smith, died.

Mr. Tinker is Tik-Tok’s creator, and Tik-Tok was the last person to have seen Dorothy before she vanished. A lot of people are wanting to reach out to Mr. Tinker for clues, but he refuses to leave the moon.

His son Jacoby, on the other hand…

CHARACTER FILES: THE WICKED WITCH OF THE SOUTH (AKA: SISSY)

First Appearance: Hit the Bricks Portrayed By: Q. Dyer

One of four witch sisters who wandered their way into Oz just as it became enchanted. Sissy was gifted great power that she shared with her sisters, and has the unique gift of corrupting others. Sissy’s power and beauty put her on the fast-track to become Oz’s future queen when she married Oz the Wicked. Unable to allow the union, Sissy’s twin sister enchanted a fountain that caused Oz the Wicked to forget everything he’d ever known. Sissy gained a new title on that day, The Wicked Witch of the South, and raised an uprising with her coven of sisters to reclaim her throne. However, Sissy was once again thwarted by her twin sister, Glinda, and this time she was marked off the face of the earth and forgotten by all who knew her. Well…sort of.

CHARACTER FILES: THE WICKED WITCH OF THE EAST (AKA: BABY)

First Appearance: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Portrayed by: Ollie Mantoani The youngest of a coven of witch sisters who migrated to Oz just as it became enchanted. Baby wanted so desperately to be like her older sister, Sissy, that she began to emulate her. In time, Baby became a tyrant, and was known by all of Oz as the Wicked Witch of the East. Baby’s unique power of terraforming and creating nature, mixed with her obsession over beauty, ensured that her kingdom was the loveliest in all of Oz. She met her end when her body crumbled into dust upon the impact of Dorothy Gale’s falling farm house.

CHARACTER FILES: CAPTAIN (AKA: The WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST)

First Appearance: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Portrayed by: Megan Scharlau

The eldest of a quartet of sisters who would grow up to be the Witches of Oz. Nicknamed captain because of her sweeping trench coat and bossy demeanor. Captain’s overly pragmatic, and has no use for people. Her unique gift was dominion over all animals and insects; and she used it to fortify large armies and secure her place as the Wicked Witch of the West.

Captain met her end thanks to a bucket-wielding young girl named Dorothy Gale.

CHARACTER FILES:MOMBI (THE WICKED WITCH OF THE NORTH)

First Appearance: The Marvelous Land of Oz Portrayed by: Emma Sherr-Ziarko In her youth, Mombi was a talentless Yookoohoo whose lone gift of transformation caught the eye of the Wicked Witch of the South. Mombi was given the title (very briefly) of Wicked Witch of the North and in her tenure, she hid away the baby Ozma and transformed her into a boy. Ozma reclaimed her birthright and stripped Mombi of her power, though she did promise to care for the woman in her old age.

Shortly after Ozma vanished, Mombi was petrified into a marble statue. Whatever secrets she was hiding are now lost to the world.

Find out what happens next:

hitthebricks.com/listen