Newnan Theatre Company's THE WIZARD OF OZ Begins Tonight

By Joan Doggrell

On August 15, 1939, "The Wizard of Oz" premiered in Hollywood while 10,000 fans lined the streets. Two days later it opened to the public, and the film industry changed forever. Every generation since has loved this film. A few found it terrifying. But no one has forgotten it.

L. Frank Baum's novel, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," published in 1900, inspired multiple dramatizations, but it is MGM film that Americans of all ages know and love. And the songs by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg that still echo in their hearts today.

In 1942, Frank Gabrielson adapted the movie script for the stage using those same songs. Then in 1987, the Royal Shakespeare Company reworked the Gabrielson version for London's Barbican Centre, faithfully reproducing every scene, song and dialogue sequence from the film. This is the script that NTC is using.

Remember all those incredible scenes in the film? There were no computer graphics in 1939, but even so, MGM had the full resources of their million dollar film studios and some special effects geniuses.

Now imagine recreating those scenes on a live stage. This is Director Jeni Dees' challenge.

"The script expects you should have flying monkeys, a balloon that flies, and a witch that flies and then melts...But in the confines of this theatre, some of that stuff just can't happen the same way it did in the film. So we are figuring out how to imply those things," said Dees.

"The challenge for the staging is that there are so many locations: the Kansas farm, Munchkin Land, cornfields for the Scarecrow, a forest for the Tin Man, a different forest for the Lion, a field of poppies, a haunted forest, and the witch's castle -outside and inside."

"So I came up with an idea of using stylized pieces - really cute ones that spin around to represent different places - a wall, a castle. What's really important to me from a director's perspective is, that everybody knows this show inside and out and knows what's going to happen. I think with these little stylized pieces, they're still going to have that vision. What we want to do is fill their experience with really good acting and singing - that quality and richness of performance over spectacle, because obviously we can't fly monkeys or a balloon. The stylized set pieces will just give a hint of that, and the scenery will fade into the background and the performances will shine out."

If anyone can pull all this off, Jeni Dees can. Her qualifications are beyond impressive. She has two Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees. One in acting /directing and one in radio/television news. She has been a reporter, a disk jockey, and a professional improv artist. She attended the Second City Conservatory in Chicago, "which is the Mecca of theater improv," said Dees. After several years of touring with the improv company Comedy Sportz, she returned to acting and directing. And she found that she really enjoyed coaching children.

Her husband's job in Fairburn brought the couple to this area in February. Dees' primary requirement for a place to live was an active theater community. "By happenstance, the Newnan Theatre Company Gala was going on right after we moved here. I met Mary Caroline Moore and Susan Babcock. They found out that I like to coach and teach middle and high school students. They mentioned that they have children's theater. I mentioned that I direct and act. So they invited me to be a part of NTC."

Her "Wizard of Oz" stars are Rebecca Ricker as Dorothy, Walker Davis as the Scarecrow, John Caldwell as the Tin Man, and Dave Dorrell as the Cowardly Lion. Erin Paulson is playing Glinda and doubling as Auntie Em. Then Rachel Weiss is playing Miss Gulch and the Wicked Witch, and Chad Sheppard is playing Uncle Henry and the big guard who cries at the gate. Ismael Rios also has a double role as Professor Marvel and the Wizard of Oz - both the "Wizard" and then the "humbug" -- the insignificant little man behind the scary Oz disguise.

The children playing the Munchkins (16 of them) are varied in their experience. Some are from the NTC's Academy of Theatre Arts or NTC's KidsCamp. Some are from Peachtree City.

"We'll have all the wonderful songs and characters, and we have a Toto. He's a sweet baby dog named Alvin. He was four months old when he was adopted by a lady from my church. He's small (but growing), and obviously a mutt. He's doing really well," said Dees.

"This show is a piece of Americana. I think everybody has those family memories of watching the movie at home with popcorn. Now come and be immersed in it again and be surrounded by the joy that is the story. It's a journey - kind of like mine - I've just moved here from Chicago, and sometimes I feel I'm not in Kansas anymore Well, Dorothy, I get you. I realize home is where the heart is, and family is the most important of all. That's a nice message to share with everybody."

The show opens at NTC on Thursday, September 3, and runs through Sunday, September 13. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased through the NTC website, newnantheatre.org, or via phone by calling 770.683.6282.

Performance dates, times, and ticket prices are as follows:

September 3, 8:00 pm, $10.00 for all

September 4, 8:00 pm, $10 for children, $12 for students and seniors, $15 for adults

September 5, 8:00 pm, $10 for children, $12 for students and seniors, $15 for adults

September 6, 3:00 pm, $10 for children, $12 for students and seniors, $15 for adults

September 10, 8:00 pm, $10.00 for all

September 11, 8:00 pm, $10 for children, $12 for students and seniors, $15 for adults

September 12, 8:00 pm, $10 for children, $12 for students and seniors, $15 for adults

September 13, 3:00 pm, $10 for children, $12 for students and seniors, $15 for adults

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