TheatreWorks USA Holds THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD Benefit, 7/25

Theatreworks USA (Barbara Pasternack, Artistic Dir.; Ken Arthur, Producing Dir.), the nation's leading not-for-profit professional theatre for family audiences, is pleased to announce details for the special one-night-only benefit performance and celebration of the new Latin-themed children's musical THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD, presented as the featured production of its 23rd Annual Free Summer Theatre Program.

The benefit performance is set for Monday, July 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher St.). A post-performance "Fiesta!" with cast, production team and more will begin at 8 p.m. at Garage (99 Seventh Ave. South).

Ticket prices range from $50 to $200, and tables of four and ten are available for $550 and $1,500. Tickets and more information are available by calling 212-647-1100 x126 or by emailing development@twusa.org.

A portion of each ticket purchased is tax-deductible. Please call for details.

"For the past 23 years, we have had the incredible privilege of presenting free theatre to thousands of inner city kids throughout the five boroughs each summer," said Artistic Director Barbara Pasternack.

"Because of the ongoing generous support of our amazing patrons, donors and corporate sponsors, many of these children are experiencing the thrill of live theatre for the first time. And we're delighted to continue that tradition this summer with THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD -- a unique and exciting new family musical, and one that I'm sure our young audiences will enjoy!"

For more information on the July 25 benefit performance and the Free Summer Theatre Program, visit www.twusa.org.

THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD begins performances on Tuesday, July 19, 2010 at Off-Broadway's Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher St.) and continues through Friday, August 19. Opening Night is set for Wednesday, July 27 at 6:30 p.m. 

Click your heels together "tres veces" and take a magical journey with THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD, an all-new salsa and merengue-infused musical inspired by The Wizard of Oz.

In Chicago, the windy city, Dora Inez Garza is preparing for her fifteenth birthday celebration -- a traditional quinceanera. Her mother and uncles have worked so hard to make it an exciting fiesta for her, but Dora, feeling caught between the expectations of her heritage and her desire to be like any other contemporary American teenager, doesn't understand why the tradition is so important to her family.

With a little help from a mysterious woman and her enchanted gift, Dora is swept up into a gran tornado that drops her (and her little chiuahua, too) in a magical world where she must slip on the ruby zapatillas and take a journey of self-discovery, dancing down the yellow brick road.

She seeks the only person who can help her return to the world she knows -- the superstar with all the answers: the Wizard of Oz -- la Maravillosa Maga de Oz. Along the way she befriends a tongue-tied scarecrow, a heartless iron chef and a cowardly mountain lion, but a crazy, mean bruja intent on total world domination will stop at nothing to steal Dora's stylish, yet super powerful shoes.

Come along to the Emerald City with Dora and her friends as she discovers the power of embracing who you are, understanding where you come from and knowing "home" is always a heartbeat away. With all-new songs written in contemporary Latin musical styles, THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD promises to be a Ozzsome adventure!

Directed by Devanand Janki (Junie B. Jones) and choreographed by Janki and Robert Tatad (Junie B. Jones), THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD features a book by Mando Alvarado and Tommy Newman, and music and lyrics by Jaime Lozano and Newman.

THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD stars Virginia Cavaliere as Dora, Lexi Rhoades as Carnival Gloria / The Wizard, Natalie Toro as La Bruja, Ryan Duncan as Scarecrow, Frank Viveros as Tino and Cedric Leiba Jr. as Mountain Lion. Joshua Cruz and Desiree Rodriguez are the understudies.

The production features scenic design by Roger Hanna, costume design by Sydney Maresca, lighting design by Jeff Croiter, sound design by Carl Casella, puppet design by Lake Simons, orchestrations and arrangements by Salomon Lerner and Jaime Lozano, and music direction and additional arrangements by Zachary Dietz.

Launched in 1989, the mission of Theatreworks USA's Free Summer Theatre Program is to provide New York City youth with their own free theatre tradition that not only entertains, but also educates and fosters positive values and an appreciation for theatre. More than 15,000 FREE tickets will be distributed to THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD this summer.

Photo Credit: Jeremy Daniel

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