Want to go?

What: Community Theatre of Greensboro presents “The Wizard of Oz”

When: 7 p.m. Nov. 10-11, 17-18 and 2 p.m. Nov. 11-12, 18-19

Where: Carolina Theatre, 310 S. Greene St., Greensboro

Tickets: $10-$44 at the box office, by phone at 336-333-2605 or online at carolinatheatre.com

Information: ctgso.org or carolinatheatre.com

You’ll find a lot has changed in CTG’s production of “The Wizard of Oz” this year. But much remains that is as familiar and as comfortable as a pair of old slippers — ruby-red slippers, perhaps.

And that’s how it should be for a play that’s in its 23rd year for the Community Theatre of Greensboro.

“The Wizard” — which starts its run Nov. 10 at the Carolina Theatre — has become a Triad tradition, says the company’s artistic director Mitchel Sommers.

That’s one reason why CTG went to Greensboro officials last year and asked for the city’s help in making some updates.

CTG raised $40,000 through grants from the Tannenbaum Sternberger Foundation, the Greensboro Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Lincoln Financial and the Hillsdale Fund, among other organizations, and the city matched that amount

That means that this year is the first phase of the overhaul of “The Wizard of Oz.”

It also means that there will be a brand new digital piano, a new Wizard of Oz head in the wizard chambers and new costumes for a lot of the characters.

There are plans for the coming years, Sommers says. “In Kansas, we need a new Uncle Henry and Aunt Em house. And we would like to see a new Munchkin land.

“All this is going to happen over the next few years, so we’re pretty pumped about it.”

Some things will never change about “The Wizard” — among them the sense of community and the way that the production pulls families together.

It’s a big draw for family audiences. But then there’s the cast.

There are 100 people in it — about half of them children — and at least another 100 are volunteers. Ushering, getting kids on the stage, monitoring dressing rooms.

“It’s a real family affair,” Sommers says. “Your child can’t be involved without the rest of the family being involved."