The Garden Theatre Opens THE WIZARD OF OZ, 4/19

The Garden Theatre will present The Wizard of Oz showing April 19 - May 26 at the Garden Theatre (160 West Plant Street), presented by CenturyLink. Directed by Rob Winn Anderson, The Wizard of Oz has a cast of over 50 children and adults ranging in age from 5-65 as actors, singers, and dancers from across the Central Florida area in this fresh take of the classic musical. Several performances dates will feature celebrity walk-on roles.

"The Wizard of Oz is a classic that transcends place and time. It has been embedded into the hearts of many generations," said director Rob Winn Anderson. "This version plays on the idea that, even today, this masterpiece affects us as powerfully as it has in years past. It has all of the elements that we know and love but we're just looking at it through a slightly different lens."

Principal cast:
Dorothy - Chloe Robin
Scarecrow/Hunk - Erik Nelson
Tin Man/Hickory - Daniel Longacre
Lion/Zeke - CK Anderson
Miss Gulch/Wicked Witch of the West - Beryl Rochatka
Aunt Em/Glinda the Good Witch - Meaghan Fenner
Professor Marvel/Wizard of Oz - Terry Olson
Uncle Henry/Oz Guard/Winkie - J. Michael Werner
Dorothy Gale, Understudy - Lyndsey Wilkerson
Toto - Ollie

Additional Adult Cast - Bill Baysinger, Katie Brown, Teresa DeFelice, Clayton Grimm, Judith Gill, Amanda Hull, Mike Reep, Brooke Schellpfeffer, Samantha Uhrig, Kate Vermillion, J. Michael Werner, Nikki Werner, Lyndsey Wilkerson, Tanya Wheelock, Roger Zalneraitis

Children Cast - Sydney Adams-Farley, Aiden Bjortvedt, Emelia Brzakala, Dana Cassidy, Hannah Cheesman, Ryan Colanta, Emma Conroy, Luciana DeFelice, Sofia Donato, Patrick DuChene, Momo Earle, Kennedy Joy Foristall, Haylee Gooch, Lilly Harvey, Chloé Hogan, Kailey Jones, Matthew Laudat, Jania Lowe, Ava Madara, Abigail Marotta, Sam Mayuski, Ariel Poweska, TJ Pursley, Catherine Saunders, Isabel Simmons, Cooper Smalley, Josie Territo, Bryson Uhrig, Mackendrick Zavitz

ABOUT THE WIZARD OF OZ
• Terry Olson, performing the role of the Wizard of Oz, is Orange County's Director of Arts & Cultural Affairs.
• Rob Winn Anderson directed Biloxi Blues at the Garden Theatre in February. He will also co-direct/write the world premiere adaptation Alice Lost In Wonderland in October at the Garden Theatre.
• Cindy White, who designed the intricate sets for this show, was once the Art Director for Creative Entertainment at Walt Disney World and has designed parades, stage shows and attractions.
• Ollie (Toto) is a 10-year-old Australian terrier whose owners are full-time canine instructors.
• The Wizard of Oz has a cast of over 50 performers and dozens of crew members.
• In all, over 200 people are in some way involved in this Garden Theatre production.

ABOUT THE GARDEN THEATRE
Located in the heart of historic downtown Winter Garden on Plant Street, the Garden Theatre is a not-for-profit community organization committed to enriching, engaging, and entertaining through creative experiences. The theatre, which reopened 2008, showcases an atmospheric theatre in a Mediterranean Revival style venue. The Garden Theatre hosts live plays, concerts, movies, film festivals and more to the residents of and visitors to the city of Winter Garden.

For tickets or additional information, contact the Garden Theatre Box Office at 407-877-GRDN (4736) or gardentheatre.org.