VIOLET's Emma Howard to Star in Surflight Theatre's THE WIZARD OF OZ This Winter

Follow the yellow brick road to Surflight Theatre for THE WIZARD OF OZ, beginning Friday, November 28 with performances through Sunday, December 21.

THE WIZARD OF OZ is adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company 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.

Surflight Theatre's THE WIZARD OF OZ will be directed by Karen Carpenter (Love, Loss and What I Wore), choreographed by Matt Williams (Carrie), with music direction by Charlotte Evans.

14-year old Emma Howard, who was recently featured as the cover for Young Violet in Roundabout Theatre's revival of Violet and in the original Broadway cast of Matilda as Hortensia is Dorothy. Howard is one of the youngest girls to play Dorothy in a professional production of OZ. Judy Garland was 16 when THE WIZARD OF OZ was filmed.

Making his Surflight debut is Michael J. Farina, who will play Professor Marvel and The Wizard of Oz. The cast will also feature Stephanie H. Gilmore (Aunt Em/Glinda), James Young (Uncle Henry/Guard!),Kathryn Kendall (Elmira Gulch/Wicked Witch of the West), Timothy J. Allen (Hunk/Scarecrow), John H. Thyen (Zeke/Cowardly Lion, and Will Sevedge (Hickory/Tinman). The ensemble includes Chrissy Albanese, Hannah Balagot, Stephanie Bissonnette, Jessica Crilley, Nicole Curnan, Caleb Dicke,Jessica Foster, Abigail Hartwell, Josiah Jacoby, Nadia Jewel, Isabella Moitoso, Courtney Moran,Brandon Roach, Joseph Rosario, Sharrod Williams, and Russell Zacher.

The creative team also includes Steven Lee Burright (Scenic Design), Stacey Juengling (Costume Coordinator), Benjamin Weill (Lighting Design), Matthew Haber (Projection Design), Mark Keeler (Sound Design), Ryan PJ Mulholland (Wig and Hair Design), Jana Lynn (Production Stage Manager), and Wojick-Seay Casting (Casting). THE WIZARD OF OZ is produced for Surflight Theatre by William C. Martin(General Manager).

There truly is no place like home as THE WIZARD OF OZ, the greatest family musical of all time, lands on the stage of Surflight Theatre. You will be swept away by our celebration of the 75th Anniversary 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.

Surflight Theatre is located at 201 Engleside Avenue in historic Beach Haven, NJ. Performances are Wednesday at 6:30pm, Friday at 7:30pm and Saturday at 8pm, Matinees are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 2pm; Sunday at 1:30pm. Tickets: $45. There will be a special student performance of THE WIZARD OF OZ on Friday, December 5 at 11am. Contact Group Sales for groups and December 5 student performance at (609) 492-9477 x210. For single tickets call (609) 492-9477 or online atwww.surflight.org.