JOURNEY TO OZ at Kean University This April

Children and their families are invited to sing, dance, create sound effects and act alongside professional cast members when Journey to Oz comes to Kean Stage in Union, N.J. for an 11 a.m. show on April 14.

This fantastic, new adaptation of L. Frank Baum's beloved tale is aimed at kids in grades K-5 and is perfect for families.

The audience is in the middle of the action in this fun, experiential show as they take on the roles of Munchkins and other characters, including flying monkeys. Dorothy and her friends battle the Wicked Witch to find the brains, the heart and the courage they never knew they had. The actors will pick audience members to come on stage and play different roles, and possibly be responsible for guiding the outcome of the story. Everyone else gets to be part of this immersive piece. If you're in the room, you're in the show!

Journey to Oz is a co-production with Children's Theatre of Charlotte, in North Carolina, and Experiential Theater Company, based in New Jersey.

"The Experiential Theater Company is named for the immersive, interactive productions we create for young audiences," said Producing Artistic Director Christopher Parks. "Children and their families come to the theater thinking they are there to see a show, but what they find out very quickly is that they are there to be in a show."

The production boasts lavish costumes and impressive scenery, which are based on the drawings from the original 1900 edition of the first book in the series, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The show has wonderful details about the characters and the world of Oz that are not found in the 1939 film.

Journey to Oz tickets are $12-20 and are available at the Kean Stage Box office in Wilkins Theatre,1000 Morris Avenue, Union, N.J., by phone at (908) 737-7469 or online at www.keanstage.com.

ABOUT KEAN UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1855, Kean University has become one of the largest metropolitan institutions of higher education in the region, with a richly diverse student, faculty and staff population. Kean continues to play a key role in the training of teachers and is a hub of educational, technological and cultural enrichment serving nearly 15,000 students. The University's five undergraduate colleges offer more than 50 undergraduate degrees over a full range of academic subjects. The Nathan Weiss Graduate College offers four doctoral degree programs and more than 60 options for graduate study leading to master's degrees, professional diplomas or certifications. With campuses in Union and Toms River, New Jersey, and Wenzhou, China, Kean University furthers its mission by providing an affordable and accessible world-class education. Visit www.kean.edu.

Kean Stage at Kean University educates, entertains and challenges audiences by presenting high-quality programs that reflect the diversity of the region and of the arts. These cultural offerings complement the intellectual life of the classroom for our students, increase opportunities for community engagement, and provide affordable access to the arts for New Jersey residents. Audiences of all ages are invited to enjoy a wide range of professional theatre, Broadway tours, dance performances, concerts, international films and family-friendly shows. In addition, Kean Stage encourages University students to attend events, and provides several options to explore the performing arts through master classes, workshops, lectures, employment opportunities as ushers, backstage technicians and box office staff. Visit ?www.keanstage.com?.

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