Photo Flash: New Portrait of Ruby Rakos and Michael Wartella in 'CHASING RAINBOWS' at Flat Rock Playhouse

Flat Rock Playhouse's presentation of CHASING RAINBOWS: THE ROAD TO OZ world premiere will chronicles the life of a young Judy Garland. This exciting new musical explores her extraordinary journey from vaudeville to Hollywood to stardom which culminated in one of the most popular films of all time, THE WIZARD OF OZ. The production will run from November 27 through December 19, 2015 at Flat Rock Playhouse, the State Theatre of North Carolina, nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Below, BroadwayWorld has a new portrait of actress Ruby Rakos in character as Judy, with Michael Wartella as Mickey Rooney!

The cast for CHASING RAINBOWS: THE ROAD TO OZ includes Rakos (Broadway's Billy Elliot) in the central role of Frances Gumm who eventually blossoms into the legendary Judy Garland. Other principal roles will be played by Ben Crawford (Broadway's On the Twentieth Century, Big Fish, Shrek the Musical, Les Miserables), Michael Wartella (Broadway's Wicked), Wendi Bergamini (Broadway's South Pacific, Promises Promises, Evita, and Doctor Zhivago), Michael McCorry Rose (Broadway's A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, Wicked), Janet Dickinson (Broadway's Bullets Over Broadway, Dr. Suess's how the Grinch Stole Christmas) and Kevin B. McGlynn. The adult ensemble will comprise of Zach Berger, Katie Drinkard, Preston Dyar, Dan Higgins, Maddy Kinsella, Andrea Laxton, Katie LeMark, Sarah Primmer, Jack Sipple, Scott Treadway, Alexandria Van Paris, Davis Wayne and Zach Williams.

The producers and the creative team traveled to Flat Rock in August to audition local youth for CHASING RAINBOWS: THE ROAD TO OZ. Featured roles include Kyra Hewitt as Baby Gumm, Nicole Johanson as Shirley Temple and Claire Griffin as Deanna Durbin. Rounding out the youth ensemble will be Sophia Bradshaw, Anissa Gale-Patrizia Briggs, Harper Callahan, Brice Farris, Will Field, Keelie Jones Clarke MacDonald, Louise Martin, Ezekiel Mercado, Clancy Penny, Caroline Quinn, Jamie Riedy, Alisha Richardson, Hadin Robertson, Chris Saucedo, Ariana Schuler and Georgia Kay Wise.

CHASING RAINBOWS: THE ROAD TO OZ is conceived and produced by New York City based Tina Marie Casamento Libby, with a New York team of Executive Producer Nicole Kastrinos of Red Awning, and general management by 321 Theatrical Management. The tuner will feature such songs as "Over the Rainbow," "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" and "Broadway Rhythm" which have been reconceived by Music Supervisor and Arranger David Libby in a revelatory, contemporary sound. In addition to signature Garland songs, CHASING RAINBOWS: THE ROAD TO OZ incorporates songs from the MGM era culled from the Sony Feist/Robbins Catalog, rights administered by Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC.

CHASING RAINBOWS: THE ROAD TO OZ is written by Marc Acito and will be directed and choreographed by Jeff Whiting. It will run from November 27th through December 19th at the Flat Rock Playhouse. Performances Thursday through Sunday at 8 PM. Matinees Saturday at 2 PM. Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased by calling the Playhouse Box Office at 828-693-0731, toll-free at 866-732-8008 or online at www.flatrockplayhouse.org.

Photo Credits: Scott Treadway and Brian Edwards

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