THE WIZARD OF OZ Comes to Spencer Theater Sunday, March 10

Flying witches, flying monkeys, talking trees, swirling atmosphere - oh my!

Follow the yellow brick road out to see the national touring production of THE WIZARD OF OZ where the Emerald City sparkles with life on Sunday, March 10 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Spencer Theater. Faithfully celebrating the 1939 MGM movie classic, the Spencer's stage will be filled with breathtaking special effects that will sweep audiences away from the moment the tornado twists its way into Kansas.

Produced by the highly acclaimed Apex Touring and Prather Entertainment Group, THE WIZARD OF OZ features an impressive cast of more than 30 professional singers, actors, musicians and creatures including Jitterbugs. See Dorothy, her devoted mutt Toto (Murphy, a seasoned stage actor and shelter rescue), and her clutch of remarkable friends - Scarecrow, Tinman, Cowardly Lion - as they follow the yellow brick road through colorful Munchkinland, have mysterious adventures in the Haunted Forest and run away from the Wicked Witch of the West and her army of frightening flying minions. Dorothy is off to see the Wizard in the wonderful land of Oz. Once safely in Emerald City after melting the Wicked Witch, the young dreamer Dorothy can click her empowering ruby slippers and journey safely back to her rustic farm home in Kansas, reuniting with her heartsick caretakers, Aunt Em and Uncle Henry and others we met when the transformative tornado first brewed.

This spectacular production of THE WIZARD OF OZ is a new, refreshed and lavish rendition that dazzles with brightly colored sets, magical effects, and composer Harold Arlen's timeless score "Over the Rainbow," "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead," "If I Only Had A Brain," and, of course, the wonderfully enduring L. Frank Baum story.

Excellent seats are available to both the 1 p.m. matinee and the 7 p.m. performances on March 10. Call the Spencer Box Office at (575) 336-4800 or visit www.spencertheater.com for tickets and information. Pre-show glazed spiral ham buffet ($20) is also available at 5 p.m.

Munchkinland Tweaked On Site

Because of its fabulous stage technology and location, the Spencer Theater was just recently selected by the tour's parent company, APEX Touring, to prep "The Wizard of Oz" for its international tour through China. The Spencer audiences will get to see the international cast and set before anyone else during the performances on Sunday, March 10 at 1 p.m. & 7 p.m. Prepping the show for its overseas tour gives local crews experience in packaging a show for overseas shipping and intercontinental tour. "The Wizard of Oz" cast and crews will arrive at the Spencer several days early and extra crews will be hired to help with the additional behind-the-scenes work. Company officials say the onsite work will involve the addition of set pieces to the Munchkinland scenes, the Emerald City and adding an all new color changing proscenium treatment.Some costume and wig alterations are also expected. And while they're here during the "mini-tech" the new international cast will be performing the show complete with a new Dorothy and Lion. Sarah Cammarata will be taking over the role of the wandering Dorothy when the show heads to China and James Francis will step into the role of the Cowardly Lion.

Be the first to see this new set and cast on stage before they head to China to perform in cities such as Beijing, Taiwan and Shanghai. This is a unique experience that doesn't happen every day at Spencer Theater. Just when you travel over the rainbow!

To post a comment, you must register and login.