Lamb stages 'The Wizard of Oz'
By Joanne Fox Journal staff writer | Posted: Friday, November 23, 2007
Mary Madsen, Wayne Blum, Donny Short and L.J. Dudley rehearse a scene from "The Wizard of Oz," the next musical at Lamb Productions. (Staff photo by Jim Lee)
Audience members will sit back and realize that they aren't in Kansas anymore, as the stage at Lamb Productions turns into the Gale's Kansas farm stead, then into Munchkinland, then into the magical forest, then into the kingdom of Oz and finally, back home again. It's all part of staging one of the most beloved shows of all times, "The Wizard of Oz."
The story revolves around young Dorothy Gale (Alissa Walker) of Kansas who dreams about what lies over the rainbow. One day a twister hits her farm and carries her to another world. She is joined on her quest to find the wonderful world of Oz by the Scarecrow (Donny Short), Tinman (L.J. Dudley) and Cowardly Lion (Wayne Blum). Complicating their traveling is the ever-present Wicked Witch (Mary Madsen). All's well that ends well, as Dorothy discovers that "there's no place like home."
"It's an ingenious set that Mike Rohlena has developed for this show," said director Diana Wooley. "Once the show starts, there are only two blackouts on stage."
The changes in scenery takes place through the use of drops, special effects, and lighting. So the gray hue so associated with Kansas in the movie of the same name is portrayed as is the colorful green of that place which is Over the Rainbow.
"People are used to the movie, but as a director, you have to try and give your take on the production," Wooley said. "We try and stay as true as we can to movie because that's what people are expecting to see, but that still allows us lots of room for creativity."
Creativity is evident in the costuming as well. Karen Sowienski and a crew of people have had to construct costumes for the cast of 33, including the very particular items associated with the Lion, the Tinman and the Lion.
"The costumes have to reflect Munchkinland and the city of Oz much as they did in the movie," Wooley said. "So the challenge has been to come up with very colorful pieces and ones that are true to the characters."
The movie also featured the dancing talents of Ray Bolger, Jack Haley and Bert Lahr and those have been captured by choreographer Short for the actors.
"There's also a jitterbug number that didn't make it into the movie that we're including," Wooley said. "Donny is choreographing that as well and it's going to be a neat presentation."
Make-up is another aspect of the 1939 movie. After all the Lion, Tinman and Scarecrow are all farmhands at the top of the show and then transform into new characters and back to farmhands at the conclusion. Russ Wooley, husband of Diana, is in charge of the make-up design.
"We've been practicing with the changes and I know Russ has a system so those three characters have time to get into and out of character," Diana Wooley said. "It's close to an assembly line off stage to make that happen."
And a production of the Wizard of Oz would not be complete without Toto, too.
"Cozy Blue, who belongs to Mary March, is small, white, cute and cuddly," Wooley said. "Mary let us 'adopt' the dog for a period of time and she is the perfect fit for the show."
Wooley said the choice to do "The Wizard of Oz" had much to do with timing.
"We were waiting for the right combination of talent for this one and I think we have it," she said.
"The Wizard of Oz" opens Friday and runs through Dec. 16 at Lamb Productions, 417 Market St. Curtain is 7:30 p.m. with four matinees at 1:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $23 for Friday/Saturday; adult Thursday/Sunday are $21 and senior citizens and students on Thursday/Sunday are $18. For this show, there are special prices for children. Tickets for those ages 4 years old to 8th grade are only $10 for any performance. Tickets are available at the door or by calling the box office, Monday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. at 255-9536.
For the matinee performance on Dec. 8., the show will be a sing-a-long at which audience members may come in costume and join the actors during the show in singing their favorite songs.
The story revolves around young Dorothy Gale (Alissa Walker) of Kansas who dreams about what lies over the rainbow. One day a twister hits her farm and carries her to another world. She is joined on her quest to find the wonderful world of Oz by the Scarecrow (Donny Short), Tinman (L.J. Dudley) and Cowardly Lion (Wayne Blum). Complicating their traveling is the ever-present Wicked Witch (Mary Madsen). All's well that ends well, as Dorothy discovers that "there's no place like home."
"It's an ingenious set that Mike Rohlena has developed for this show," said director Diana Wooley. "Once the show starts, there are only two blackouts on stage."
The changes in scenery takes place through the use of drops, special effects, and lighting. So the gray hue so associated with Kansas in the movie of the same name is portrayed as is the colorful green of that place which is Over the Rainbow.
"People are used to the movie, but as a director, you have to try and give your take on the production," Wooley said. "We try and stay as true as we can to movie because that's what people are expecting to see, but that still allows us lots of room for creativity."
Creativity is evident in the costuming as well. Karen Sowienski and a crew of people have had to construct costumes for the cast of 33, including the very particular items associated with the Lion, the Tinman and the Lion.
"The costumes have to reflect Munchkinland and the city of Oz much as they did in the movie," Wooley said. "So the challenge has been to come up with very colorful pieces and ones that are true to the characters."
The movie also featured the dancing talents of Ray Bolger, Jack Haley and Bert Lahr and those have been captured by choreographer Short for the actors.
"There's also a jitterbug number that didn't make it into the movie that we're including," Wooley said. "Donny is choreographing that as well and it's going to be a neat presentation."
Make-up is another aspect of the 1939 movie. After all the Lion, Tinman and Scarecrow are all farmhands at the top of the show and then transform into new characters and back to farmhands at the conclusion. Russ Wooley, husband of Diana, is in charge of the make-up design.
"We've been practicing with the changes and I know Russ has a system so those three characters have time to get into and out of character," Diana Wooley said. "It's close to an assembly line off stage to make that happen."
And a production of the Wizard of Oz would not be complete without Toto, too.
"Cozy Blue, who belongs to Mary March, is small, white, cute and cuddly," Wooley said. "Mary let us 'adopt' the dog for a period of time and she is the perfect fit for the show."
Wooley said the choice to do "The Wizard of Oz" had much to do with timing.
"We were waiting for the right combination of talent for this one and I think we have it," she said.
"The Wizard of Oz" opens Friday and runs through Dec. 16 at Lamb Productions, 417 Market St. Curtain is 7:30 p.m. with four matinees at 1:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $23 for Friday/Saturday; adult Thursday/Sunday are $21 and senior citizens and students on Thursday/Sunday are $18. For this show, there are special prices for children. Tickets for those ages 4 years old to 8th grade are only $10 for any performance. Tickets are available at the door or by calling the box office, Monday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. at 255-9536.
For the matinee performance on Dec. 8., the show will be a sing-a-long at which audience members may come in costume and join the actors during the show in singing their favorite songs.
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