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Young actors — and Toto, too — kick off Playhouse season

The Flat Rock Playhouse opens its 2015 season on Friday with The Wizard of Oz – Young Performers Edition.

 

 

The beloved story made famous in 1939 by the MGM movie that catapulted the career of a young Judy Garland will captivate theater patrons as they travel off to the Merry Old Land of Oz with Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tinman, Cowardly Lion and Toto too. This lavish production features 39 local youth as they skip down the Yellow Brick Road to such classics as "Over the Rainbow," "If I Only Had a Brain," "We're Off to See the Wizard," and more.
"Since I was a very young boy, glued to my little chair in front of the television waiting for the yearly showing of The Wizard of Oz, I have cherished this classic story and fell in love with it over and over again," Director Dave Hart says. "Now as I face directing this show for the stage with my young cast, I want to bring to them all the joy, magic and meaning the movie held for me."

Hannah Kepple, a 16-year-old actress from Asheville, will don the ruby slippers as Dorothy Gale from Kansas with Maybe Ruth as Toto. Jackson Pelz, Samuel Hooper and Christian Carmean play the roles of the Cowardly Lion, Tin Man and Scarecrow, respectively. Channeling her best Margaret Hamilton is Hannah Daniels as Miss Gulch/Wicked Witch of the West, while Claire Griffin and Annabelle Cram alternate the role of Glinda. Reese Giles plays Professor Marvel/Wizard of Oz.
Alex Shields, assisted by Sofia Mercado, provides musical direction and Kylee Odom, assisted by choreographer Emily Holbert. The Wizard of Oz Young Performer's Edition is stage managed by Betsy Tankersley. Executive Producer of the show is Park Ridge Health.


The show runs March 13-29 at the Playhouse Downtown. Performances are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $10 for students and $18 for adults and can be purchased by calling the Playhouse box office at 828-693-0731, toll-free at 866-732-8008 or online at www.flatrockplayhouse.org.