Photo Flash: Pennington Players' THE WIZ
Folks, we're not in Kansas anymore. Join the Pennington Players as they present Dorothy and friends Motown-style in "The Wiz" at Mercer County Community College. Dates and show times for this contemporary retelling of L. Frank Baum's "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" are: Fridays and Saturdays, March 6, 7, 13 and 14 at 8 p.m., and Sundays, March 8 and 15 at 2 p.m. A reception with the cast and crew follows the opening night performance on March 6. Kelsey Theatre is located on Mercer's West Windsor campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road.
With music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls, "The Wiz" traces familiar elements of Dorothy's adventures over the rainbow, but adds some colorful characters and sets the story to a lively mixture of soul, gospel, and rock music. Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion "ease on down the road" to the Emerald City in the show's most famous number. Seeking help from the Wiz, the four face down grave danger at the hands of a wicked witch before learning that the Wiz is a well-meaning fake and that they have the power to help themselves. Premiering in 1975, "The Wiz" was the first Broadway show to feature an all-black cast and was the winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score. It was followed by a 1978 film version starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.
Directed by Kyrus Westcott of Hamilton, the production features a multi-cultural cast including Sasha Alexandria of Trenton as Dorothy; Allwyn "Lynn" Baskin of Lambertville as Scarecrow; Nicholas Pecht of Hamilton as Tin Man; Samille Ganges of Bordentown as Evillene; Kim LaSala of Fairless Hills, PA, as Addeperle; and Antwan Michael of Hightstown as The Wiz. Also featured are: Tamika Reed of Hamilton as Glinda; Cheryl King of Robbinsville as Aunt Em; Steve Browne of Bensalem, PA, as Uncle Henry; and Alexander Horowitz of Yardley, PA, as Lord High Underling. Beverly Kuo-Hamilton of Princeton, Aimee Roubidoux of Levittown, PA, and Diane Westcott of Hamilton are featured as the Pit Singers. The dance corps includes Elena Caracappa of Bordentown, Tara Fregia of Levittown, PA, Rachel Tovar of Hamilton, Alexandra Pollard of Lawrenceville, Heather Santos of East Windsor, and Talia Shumsonk of Levittown, PA. More information about this production of "The Wiz" can be found online at www.penningtonplayers.org.
Tickets are $16 for adults, $14 for senior citizens, and $12 for students and children. Free parking is available next to the theater. Tickets may be purchased online at www.kelseytheatre.net or by calling the Kelsey Box Office at 609-570-3333. Kelsey Theatre is wheelchair accessible and provides assisted listening devices upon request. For a complete listing of adult and children's events for the 2008-09 season, visit the Kelsey webpage or call the box office for a brochure.
Tamika Reed, Dianne Westcott and Cheryl King, and Beverly Kuo-Hamilton
Sasha Alexandria, Steve Browne and Cheryl King
Sasha Alexandria, Lynn Baskin, Nick Pecht, and JaMel Taylor
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