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Arts & Entertainment

'The Wizard of Oz' Comes to Sumner

ManeStage helps relive a beloved classic with their rendition of 'The Wizard of Oz,' playing at the PAC now through Feb. 19.

In its fifth season here at Sumner Performing Arts Center (PAC), ManeStage Theatre Company has continued their pledge to bring family friendly entertainment to the area and their current production of is no exception. Featuring a cast of over 55 entertainers and local artists, Oz nearly marks the midpoint of the 2011-2012 season and will be followed by Narnia -The Musical, You Can’t Take It With You, and Annie before wrapping up with the classic Oklahoma!

Theater goers and Oz fans will appreciate ManeStage’s chosen adaptation of the Oz story, which more closely follows the L. Frank Baum novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” as originally published in 1900. Gone are the ruby red slippers which were a detail dreamed up by MGM Studios to further promote new and exciting Technicolor in 1939. Few will realize that the magical shoes were intended to be silver.

Brittney Stout stars as Dorothy -- you may have seen her in The Sound of Music. With strong vocals and a strong resemblance to Judy Garland, she is a believable Dorothy.

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Flanked by a veteran cast of Tyler Rogers playing Scarecrow, Bryce Smith playing the Tin Man and Brandon Mitchell as the Cowardly Lion, this charming trio offers the audience a likable trip down the yellow brick road. With entertaining dialog, witty one-liners and continually impressive acting chops, one couldn’t ask for a better supporting cast. Rogers' brainless fumbling and Mitchell's cowardly bawling will have you literally laughing out loud while Smith's opening scene as Tin Man has you captivated by his costume and wins you over with his likable lack of heart.

Costumers Judy Brooks and Jodi Josephson, who have been outfitting the ManeStage cast for several years, knocked it out of the park on this production.  Everything from the Scarecrow's ensemble to the coordination of the Munchkins tri-colored wardrobes worked in perfect harmony and supported the whimsical nature of this particular story. The costume of Smith's Tin Man is most notable and, though likely wildy uncomfortable, it was awesome in it's accuracy.

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Familiar faces include Timothy Lott as the famed, “man behind the curtain," The Wizard of Oz himself. A regular with ManeStage, and playing multiple roles in the production, Lott brings a comedic and endearing believability to his characters. His larger-than-life, if not imitating, portrayal of the Wizard featured a new visual effect not yet seen with ManeStage that commands attention to his fiery presence – all 30 feet of it.

Lynn Pratt, playing the notoriously bad Wicked Witch of the West, is a visual treat painted in green and offers up just enough scare. The under-10 set was captivated by her scenes and no doubt entertained by her inevitable demise and those most familiar with the story will find her evil cackle was pitch-perfect.

Parents should note that there are some dramatic lighting effects and dark scenes which include the winged monkeys and castle soldiers where the smallest children may be frightened or unsettled and the show may perhaps be best aimed at a more mature 6 years and up. The Wizard scenes may also encourage little ones to climb into grown-up laps.

Not only does ManeStage provide theater adaptations of well-loved classics but their photo opportunity meet & greets for children following the show helps to instill a wide-eyed appreciation of the arts into our youngest audience. This current production is no exception as children, and young at heart, can have a chance to have their photo taken with key players such as Dorothy, Toto and Glinda.  Bring your camera!

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The tale of Dorothy and her famous slippers is being performed in musical format just in time for Valentine’s weekend. The production offers both matinee and evening performances running weekends now through February 19. Tickets, starting at $10 for children, can be purchased online or at the door.

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