JOURNEY TO OZ World Premiere Opens Today in Florida Rep's Lunchbox Theatre Series

Florida Rep's Lunchbox Theatre Series is pleased to present the world premiere of Christopher T. Parks' Journey to Oz, a unique and exciting adaptation of L. Frank Baum's beloved stories that puts audiences in the middle of the action.

Playing today, November 22 at 11am in the Historic Arcade Theatre, the $12 ticket price includes the performance, an interactive workshop, and lunch.

L. Frank Baum's Oz stories have delighted readers for over a century, and starting this fall Southwest Florida audiences will experience this epic adventure like never before! Transported on the wings of a cyclone to the magical Land of Oz, Dorothy and Toto must find the Wizard before it's too late. Written specially for Florida Rep, the play invites audience members to play Dorothy and her friends as they travel down the Yellow Brick Road, battle the Wicked Witch, and search for brains, a heart, and the courage they never knew they had

Florida Rep commissioned playwright, Christopher T. Parks, to write Journey to Oz following the success of his Experiential Theatre sensation, The Odyssey Experience in 2013. Parks has spent more than a decade in New York, New Jersey, and all over the world pioneering a genre of interactive theatre for youth that brings the audience into the play to create a never before seen-and never again seen-unique performance. "Not to worry," Parks says, "one does not have to be the bravest soul in the front row to participate. If you're in the room, you're in the show!"

Florida Rep's world premiere production also features an original score by composer, Josh Totora, that gives the play a sometimes whimsical and sometimes dangerous soundscape that transports audiences from sun-bleached Kansas prairies to the magical land of Oz.

Journey to Oz features Florida Rep's acting intern company, Courtney Feiman, Mike Magliocca, Elise Miller, and Kayla Tomas, as well as Education Associate, Bailey Heinz. These young theatre artists are making their professional debut with Florida Rep, and will spend the season working in many different capacities, but chiefly performing with the Children's Theatre Series.

Florida Rep Associate Director, Jason Parrish, directs the play, and is joined by an expert creative team creative team including set designer, Jordan Moore, costume designer, Roberta Malcolm, sound designer, John Kiselica, and properties artisan, Brittany Lealman.

Journey to Oz plays in the Historic Arcade Theatre on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 11am. Tickets are $12 and available online at www.floridarepeducation.org or by calling the Box Office at 239.332.4488.

Journey to Oz is also available on tour through May 2015 to schools and venues throughout Southwest Florida. For more information on field trip opportunities or booking a tour, call Olivia Palmer at 239-332-4665 ext 41.

Florida Repertory Theatre is located on Bay Street between Jackson and Hendry in the Historic Arcade Theatre in the Fort Myers River District with ample free parking. Visit Florida Rep' Education Department online at www.floridarepeducation.org.

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