BEVERLY — Follow the yellow brick road to the award-winning North Shore Music Theatre (NSMT) for The Wizard of Oz, beginning Tuesday, July 16 and playing through Sunday, Aug. 4.
“Our production of The Wizard of Oz will be the perfect way to continue this fantastic family summer we are having at North Shore Music Theatre,” said NSMT owner and producer Bill Hanney. “Following our acclaimed record-breaking production of The Sound of Music, I am happy to say that we are anticipating many sold out performances for this show as well. I have added many additional performances to accommodate the families who will want to enjoy this show together and make some memories to last a lifetime!”
There truly is no place like home as The Wizard of Oz, the greatest family musical of all time, lands on the stage of North Shore Music Theatre. You will be swept away by our celebration of the iconic 1939 MGM film. The entire family will be captivated as they travel down the Yellow Brick Road and beyond with Dorothy, Toto and their friends the Cowardly Lion, Tinman and Scarecrow in this lavish production, featuring magical special effects, dazzling choreography and the classic songs you love, including “Over the Rainbow,” “If I Only Had a Brain,” “We’re Off to See the Wizard,” and more.
The Wizard of Oz will feature Danielle Bowan as Dorothy. Danielle is a rising junior in the BFA Musical Theatre program at Emerson College in Boston and has appeared in productions such as Spring Awakening and the Emerson Fights Aids Gala. NSMT audience favorite, David Coffee, will play Professor Marvel, The Gatekeeper and The Wizard of Oz. The cast will also feature Donna English (Aunt Em/Glinda), Laura Jordan (Almira Gulch/Wicked Witch of the West), Joe Moeller (Hickory/Tinman), Lance Roberts (Zeke/Cowardly Lion), and Paul Sabala (Hunk/Scarecrow). Toto will be played by Nigel with Loki serving as a standby.
The ensemble includes Kyle Anderson, Elizabeth Broadhurst, Tyler Brunsman, Richard Costa, Rachel Fairbanks, Zane Gerson, Jessica Jaros, Tim McShea, Stephanie Moskal, Katerina Papacostas, Sam Seferian, Merrill West and Kent Zimmerman.
Many local children will be featured in The Wizard of Oz including Jordyn Barry (11 years old from Peabody), Lila Bolt (11 years old from Montclair, N.J.), Angelina Rose Breda (7 years old from Saugus), Maggie Budzyna (12 years old from Newburyport), Elena Carmichael (11 years old from Natick), Gabrielle A. Corsino (14 years old from Burlington), Will Fafard Jr. (12 years old from Saugus), Giacomo Favazza (14 years old from Gloucester), Ashley Lanzoni (9 years old from Sudbury), Haley Lanzoni (12 years old from Sudbury), Caroline LaPlaca (14 years old from Georgetown), Andrew Scott Murdock (14 years old from Gloucester), Elizabeth Pasquale (11 years old from Salem), Isabella Shee (7 years old from Mansfield), Alana Tow (10 years old from Needham), Mikayla Tow (7 years old from Needham), and Zehava Younger (13 years old from Beverly).
The Wizard of Oz is adapted by Frank Gabrielson from the 1939 MGM film screenplay based on the novel by L. Frank Baum. The show features the music and lyrics of the MGM Motion Picture score by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg, and background music by Herbert Stothart. The Wizard of Oz will be directed and choreographed by Joel Ferrell. The creative team also includes William Stanley (Musical Direction), Jeff Modereger (Scenic Design), Paula Peasley-Ninestein (Costume Coordinator), Kirk Bookman (Lighting Design), Leon Rothenberg (Sound Design), Gerard Kelly (Wig and Hair Design), William Berloni (Animals Trainer), ZFX, Inc. (Flying Effects), Kent Zimmerman (Associate Choreographer), John Godbout (Production Stage Manager), and Binder Casting (Casting). The Wizard of Oz is produced for North Shore Music Theatre by Bill Hanney (Owner/Producer), Arianna Knapp (Artistic Director) and Beth Vasta (Associate Producer).
If You Go”¦
What: The Wizard of Oz
Where: North Shore Music Theatre
When: Performances are July 16-28, Tuesday-Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., matinees Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. There has been a 2 p.m. matinee added on Thursday, July 25, Thursday, Aug. 1, Saturday, Aug. 3, and Sunday, Aug. 4. One evening performance has been added on Thursday, Aug. 1 at 7:30 p.m. Kids 18 and under save 50 percent on ‘Family Friday’ July 19.
Tickets: Range from $45-$75. For tickets and information call 978-232-7200, visit www.nsmt.org, or visit the box office in person at 62 Dunham Road, Beverly.
Additional Free Audience Enrichment events: Meet the Theatre: Post-show audience discussion with the artists on July 23 after the 7:30 p.m. performance and July 27 after the 2 p.m. performance; OUT at the North Shore, an evening for the Gay and Lesbian Community with a post-show reception (sponsored in part by Ryan & Wood Inc. Distilleries and Sparkling Soirées) on July 25 after the 7:30 p.m. performance.
