Castle Craig Players to Stage THE WIZARD OF OZ

The merry old land of Oz comes to downtown Meriden May 13-22 as the Castle Craig Players presents THE WIZARD OF OZ. Join Dorothy as she's swept away from farmland Kansas and enters a world of color. Dance and sing along the yellow brick road with her companions, Scarecrow, Tinman, and Lion. And click your heels together as you rediscover the real story of OZ in this fantastic musical treat for the whole family!

The stage version of "Oz" was adapted by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1987 from the original 1939 MGM movie, which won an Academy Award for the iconic song "Over The Rainbow". This musical features all the songs that you love and remember, including "Ding, Dong, The Witch Is Dead", "If I Only Had A Brain", "We're Off To See The Wizard," - and reinstates a song which was cut altogether from the film - "The Jitterbug".

"Like so many others, I grew up watching this movie on a regular basis... it was a huge part of my life," says Ian Galligan, one of the show's co-directors. "It's very exciting to be able to bring these characters to life for a new generation to embrace."

"This is a show that's been on our bucket list for many years," added co-director Melanie Del Sole, "and it seemed like the right time to finally make it happen."

Castle Craig's production includes newly integrated technology to provide dazzling special effects on the group's intimate stage - as well as the talents of ten local children as the inhabitants of Munchkinland, and one canine cast member as Toto.

"There's smoke, there's flying - and there's an absolutely adorable dog," Galligan said. "Who could ask for a better night at the theatre?"

The cast includes Emma Czaplinski (Dorothy), Ian Lynch-Passarelli (Scarecrow/Hunk), Daniel Schmidt (Tinman/Hickory), Wesley Tack (Cowardly Lion/Zeke), Diane Warner-Canova (Glinda The Good Witch/Aunt Em), Pamela Amodio (The Wicked Witch of the West/Almira Gulch), Jeff Savage (The Wizard/Professor Marvel), Mark Laucella (Uncle Henry) and Hercules (Toto). The company also features Jorge Melendez, Kendra Kochol, Arthur Canova and Kathy Wade, as well as Jaedan Curcio, Annalisa Little, D'Anthony Lorenzo, Emma Lynn, Henna Neilson, Meghan Pratt, Neve Stanziale, Julia Skrzyniarz, Miriam Voisine and Sophie Zimmerman as the Munchkins. The production is directed by Ian Galligan and Melanie Del Sole, with Music Direction by Andrew Gadwah.

THE WIZARD OF OZ will be presented for six performances only - May 13-22 (Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 2:00pm) at The Almira F. Stephan Memorial Playhouse, 59 West Main Street, Meriden, CT. Tickets are $25 for Adults and $20 for Seniors & Children under 12. Tickets may be purchased online at www.CastleCraig.org or over the phone by calling toll-free 1-800-838-3006

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