Photo Flash: First Look at SCR's OZ 2.5

L. Frank Baum's beloved classic story of Dorothy and her friends in the land of Oz gets a reboot-literally-in a video game setting. OZ 2.5, a world premiere by Catherine Trieschmann, wraps up the Theatre for Young Audiences season at South Coast Repertory, May 22-June 7, on the Julianne Argyros stage. The production is directed by Shelley Butler. Tickets are on sale now: www.scr.org.

Oz was never like this-now it's brighter, bolder, customized for every player and with surprises around every corner. Dee's screen name is Dorothy14 and, with the help of Scarecrow, Tin Man and cowardly Lion, she gets through each level of the game on her way to defeating the Witch of the Western Realm. But what happens when she wins the game and wants to go back to Kansas?

This SCR commission is Trieschmann's first play written for young audiences.

Trieschmann moved to western Kansas nearly a decade ago and re-read The Wonderful Wizard of Oz; after that, she felt a strong connection to the story and Baum's description of the Kansas prairie.

The cast for OZ 2.5 includes Larry Bates, Celeste Den, Amin El Gamal, Michael Faulkner, Joe Fria, Christopher Rivas and Emily Yetter.

Photo by Ben Horak/SCR