The Wizard of Oz

By L. Frank Baum
With Music and Lyrics by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg
Adaptation and support materials for the Youth Edition developed by iTheatrics under the supervision of Timothy Allen McDonald

Background Music by Herbert Stothart
Dance and Vocal Arrangements by Peter Howard
Orchestration by Larry Wilcox
Adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company
Based upon the Classic Motion Picture owned by Turner Entertainment Co. and distributed in all media by Warner Bros

Direction by Carolyn Demanelis

Choreography by Sarah Heffner

May 10- May 19, 2024: Senney Theater

There will be no performance on May 18, 2024

Friday and Saturday performances at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday performances at 3:00 p.m.

Additional Student Matinee on Thursday, May 16, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.

Presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC

Our 75th Diamond Youth Theater Season will conclude as we follow Dorothy down the Yellow Brick Road. This charming musical features students ages 6-19, with Little Dorothy Gale of Kansas who dreams of what lies beyond the rainbow. One day a twister hits her farm and carries her away over that rainbow to the land of Oz where she and her pup Toto meet the Scarecrow, the Tinman, the Cowardly Lion. Together they learn about friendship, bravery, and ultimately, that There’s No Place Like Home.

The RSC, full version is estimated by Concord Theatricals to be about 2 hours.

Tickets for Youth Theater productions are $15 for adults and $13 for children.  Curtain times are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3:00 p.m. Sundays. Schools and home school groups may reserve seats for student matinees immediately at 216-521-2540. Like previous years, the holiday show will not go on sale until late November to the general public. 

All performances are at theaters inside Beck Center for the Arts located at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, just ten minutes west of downtown Cleveland. Free onsite parking is available. For more information visit beckcenter.org.

AUDITIONS –THE WIZARD OF OZ– Beck Center Youth Theater

Beck Center for the Arts Youth Theater, one of the oldest continuously running Youth Theaters in the country, will be holding auditions on February 3 and 4, 2024 for their final production in their 75th season.

THE WIZARD OF OZ

By L. Frank Baum

Music and Lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg

Adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company

Direction by Carolyn Demanelis

Musical Direction by Heidi Herczeg

Choreography by Sarah Heffner

The popular classic returns to Beck Center’s Youth Theater stage. Dorothy Gale of Kansas dreams of what lies beyond the rainbow. One day a twister hits her farm and carries her away over that rainbow to the Land of Oz where Dorothy, and her pup Toto, meet the Scarecrow, the Tinman, and the Cowardly Lion. Together they learn about friendship, bravery, and ultimately, that there is no place like home. Featuring a score of classic songs including the timeless “Over the Rainbow,” you won’t want to miss this family favorite.

Audition/Callback dates: (open to Beck Center students, ages 6 to 19*)

·         Saturday, February 3: 1:30 to 4:30pm

·         Sunday, February 4: 10:00am to 1:00 pm

Callbacks: Tuesday, February 6 between 4:30 and 8:30pm

Sign up for a half hour audition slot (starting 1/17 4:30pm)

online via Signup Genius http://tinyurl.com/WOZaud

*Youth Theater roles are only eligible to students who will be enrolled in our Winter/Spring 2024 semester. Actors do not need to be enrolled at the time of the auditions, however, participation in the production requires enrollment in our Winter/Spring 2024 semester. Students enrolled online and in person in the Theater, Dance, Music, Creative Arts Therapies, and/or Visual Arts Departments are equally eligible. *Please note that class sizes and offerings are limited at this time, so please register in advance if possible.

Bottom line:  if you are accepting a role in the show, you will need to enroll prior to the start of rehearsals. Any questions, please feel free to contact Sarah Clare, Associate Director of Theater Education, at sclare@beckcenter.org.

Unlike some other youth theaters, there is NO additional participation fee required beyond enrollment.

What to Prepare:

·         Prepare a short one minute monologue or poem (Memorization is strongly encouraged.)

·         Prepare a musical theater song, either up-tempo or ballad, up to one minute long. *An  

         Accompanist is provided. Sheet music is strongly encouraged.

·         Prepare a Headshot (picture of your student), and resume for online submission

·         Prepare a list of all potential rehearsal conflicts

Potential Rehearsals: February 29 – May 4, 2024

·         Mon, Tue, Weds, Thurs, Fri: between 4:30 – 8:30 pm

·         Saturdays: between 1:30 – 5:30pm

·         Sundays: between 12:30 – 5:30pm

The show will NOT be rehearsing every day or the full time range listed. The director will pick the days that best accommodate everyone’s schedules once conflicts and availability are known for the above dates. *We will not rehearse March 29-April 4, 2024

Tech Week: May 5-May 9, 2024

Sunday between 12:00 – 7:00pm and Weeknights between 5:00 – 9:00 pm

All cast members are expected to attend ALL rehearsals during Tech Week.

Performance dates:  May 10 – 19, 2024

All cast members are required to attend all performances.

Thursday, May 16 at 10:00am and 7:30pm

Fridays, May 10, 17 at 7:30pm

Saturday, May 11 at 7:30pm

Sundays, May 12, 19 3:00pm

Student Matinee: Thursday, May 16 at 10:00am (NOTE: This will require missing school that morning.)

***We may add additional performances if the show sells out in advance***