Danielle Bowan, David Coffee & More Set for THE WIZARD OF OZ at North Shore Music Theatre, 7/16-8/4

Follow the yellow brick road to the award-winning North Shore Music Theatre (NSMT) for THE WIZARD OF OZ, beginning Tuesday, July 16 and now playing through Sunday, August 4. Press night is scheduled for Wednesday, July 17 at 7:30 p.m.

"Our production of The Wizard of Oz will be the perfect way to continue this fantastic family summer we are having at North Shore Music Theatre," said NSMT owner and producer Bill Hanney. "Following our acclaimed record-breaking production of The Sound of Music, I am happy to say that we are anticipating many sold out performances for this show as well. I have added many additional performances to accommodate the families who will want to enjoy this show together and make some memories to last a lifetime!"

There truly is no place like home as THE WIZARD OF OZ, the greatest family musical of all time, lands on the stage of North Shore Music Theatre. You will be swept away by our celebration of the iconic 1939 MGM film. The entire family will be captivated as they travel down the Yellow Brick Road and beyond with Dorothy, Toto and their friends the Cowardly Lion, Tinman and Scarecrow in this lavish production, featuring magical special effects, dazzling choreography and the classic songs you love, including "Over the Rainbow," "If I Only Had a Brain," "We're Off to See the Wizard," and more.

THE WIZARD OF OZ will feature Danielle Bowan as Dorothy. Danielle is a rising junior in the BFA Musical Theatre program at Emerson College in Boston and has appeared in productions such as Spring Awakening and the Emerson Fights Aids Gala. NSMT audience favorite, David Coffee, will play Professor Marvel, The Gatekeeper and The Wizard of Oz. The cast will also feature Donna English (Aunt Em/Glinda),Laura Jordan (Almira Gulch/Wicked Witch of the West), Joe Moeller (Hickory/Tinman), Lance Roberts (Zeke/Cowardly Lion), and Paul Sabala (Hunk/Scarecrow). Toto will be played by Nigel with Loki serving as a standby.

The ensemble includes Kyle Anderson, Elizabeth Broadhurst, Tyler Brunsman, Richard Costa, Rachel Fairbanks, Zane Gerson, Jessica Jaros, Tim McShea, Stephanie Moskal, Katerina Papacostas, Sam Seferian, Merrill West, and Kent Zimmerman

Many local children will be featured in THE WIZARD OF OZ including Jordyn Barry (11 years old from Peabody), Lila Bolt (11 years old from Montclair, NJ), Angelina Rose Breda (7 years old from Saugus),Maggie Budzyna (12 years old from Newburyport), Elena Carmichael (11 years old from Natick), Gabrielle A. Corsino (14 years old from Burlington), Will Fafard, Jr. (12 years old from Saugus), Giacomo Favazza (14 years old from Gloucester), Ashley Lanzoni (9 years old from Sudbury), Haley Lanzoni (12 years old from Sudbury), Caroline LaPlaca (14 years old from Georgetown), AnDrew Scott Murdock (14 years old from Gloucester), Elizabeth Pasquale (11 years old from Salem), Isabella Shee (7 years old from Mansfield), Alana Tow (10 years old from Needham), Mikayla Tow (7 years old from Needham), andZehava Younger (13 years old from Beverly).

THE WIZARD OF OZ is adapted by Frank Gabrielson from the 1939 MGM film screenplay based on the novel by L. Frank Baum. The show features the music and lyrics of the MGM Motion Picture score by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg and background music by Herbert Stothart. THE WIZARD OF OZ will be directed and choreographed by Joel Ferrell. The creative team also includes William Stanley (Musical Direction), Jeff Modereger (Scenic Design), Paula Peasley-Ninestein (Costume Coordinator), Kirk Bookman (Lighting Design), Leon Rothenberg (Sound Design), Gerard Kelly (Wig and Hair Design), William Berloni (Animals Trainer), ZFX, Inc. (Flying Effects), Kent Zimmerman (Associate Choreographer), John Godbout (Production Stage Manager), and Binder Casting (Casting). THE WIZARD OF OZ is produced for North Shore Music Theatre by Bill Hanney (Owner/Producer), Arianna Knapp (Artistic Director), and Beth Vasta (Associate Producer).

Tickets for the THE WIZARD OF OZ are priced from $45 - $75. Performances are July 16 thru July 28, Tue - Thurs at 7:30 pm, Fri & Sat at 8 pm, matinees Wed, Sat and Sun at 2 pm. There has been a2pm matinee added on Thurs, July 25, Thursday, August 1, Saturday, August 3, and Sunday, August 4. One evening performance has been added on Thursday, August 1 at 7:30pm. Kids 18 and under save 50% on 'Family Friday' July 19. For tickets and information call (978) 232-7200, visit www.nsmt.org, or visit the box office in person at 62 Dunham Rd., Beverly, Massachusetts. THE WIZARD OF OZ is sponsored by Beverly Hospital, a member of Lahey Health, and Boston Children's Hospital .

Additional Free Audience Enrichment events: Meet the Theatre: post-show audience discussion with the artists on July 23 after the 7:30 pm performance and July 27 after the 2 pm performance; OUT at the North Shore, an evening for the Gay and Lesbian Community with a post-show reception (sponsored in part by Ryan & Wood Inc. Distilleries and Sparkling Soirées) on July 25 after the 7:30 pm performance.

The 2013 musical season continues with Cats (August 20 - September 1), La Cage aux Folles (September 24 - October 6) starring Charles Shaughnessy, Miss Saigon (November 5 - 17), and concludes with the return of New England's brightest holiday tradition A Christmas Carol (December 6 - 22), starring David Coffee, celebrating 20 years as Ebenezer Scrooge.

Since 1955, NSMT has become one of the most attended theatres in New England, with approximately 250,000 patrons annually. With a national and regional reputation for artistic achievement, NSMT has received numerous industry awards including Elliot Norton Awards, IRNE Awards, the Rosetta Le Noire Award from Actors' Equity, and the Moss Hart Award. NSMT produced the World Premiere of Memphis in 2003, the show went on to win four 2010 Tony Awards including Best Musical. Under the new ownership of Bill Hanney in 2010, NSMT continues to annually produce a musical subscription series and an annual production of A Christmas Carol along with celebrity concerts and children's programming.