Mayor of Seattle Names Today OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL DAY

Disney announced that Mayor Michael McGinn has proclaimed today as "Oz The Great and Powerful" Day in the city of Seattle, Wash., in honor of Disney's fantastical adventure opening in theaters across the U.S. tomorrow, March 8.

Since the 1980s, Seattle, Washington, has often been referred to as the "Emerald City" because of the lush evergreen forests of the area and the more than 6,000 acres of beautiful parklands within the city limits. The name "Emerald City" came into the public's consciousness through the works of L. Frank Baum, whose 14 books, set in the imaginary Land of Oz, feature the iconic green city. "Oz The Great and Powerful" is a cinematic prequel to Baum's first book, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."
The film, directed by Sam Raimi, imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum's beloved wizard character. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he's hit the jackpot-fame and fortune are his for the taking-that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone's been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity-and even a bit of wizardry-Oscar transforms himself not only into the great wizard but into a better man as well.

"Oz The Great and Powerful" is produced by Joe Roth, with screen story by Mitchell Kapner and screenplay by Mitchell Kapner and David Lindsay-Abaire. Grant Curtis, Palak Patel, Josh Donen and Philip Steuer are serving as executive producers.