BWW Previews: Wizard of Oz opens at The Playhouse Nov 14

From playing Dorothy at The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati one month to a national tour the next, Kalie Kaimann found her yellow brick road.

You never know, you never know.

After the run in her native Ohio, Kalie saw auditions for a national tour of OZ - which hits The Playhouse on Nov 14 - 19 - flew to NYC and the rest one might say was overseen by Glinda's wand.

The alleyways of NY are awash with tears and the skyscrapers resonate the primal screams of serial auditioners waiting for that one chance. Actors struggle for years through countless auditions and never achieve this combo of talent and serendipity. Regarding Kalie, "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Ohio anymore"

The Wizard of Oz, its constant reemergence in culture and entertainment is compelling.

Apex Touring is producing. Author L. Frank Baum wrote the fantastical story in 1900. It opened as a musical in Chicago in 1902, was a success on Broadway and toured for 7 years.

The American Film Institute rated "Rainbow" as the #1 greatest movie song of all time. Knowing that when Dorothy Gale entered Oz, Judy Garland entered immortality, I asked Kalie if she felt any pressure or responsibility singing that tune and playing the part. "I have studied her in the film countless times. There is a responsibility playing an iconic figure. All I can do is hope to pay homage to her".

This version is taken from England's Royal Shakespeare version of 1987. It is a new, refreshed production with brightly colored sets and breathtaking special effects. It will create new memories or conjure them up from the past. A new old tune - cut from the movie- "The Jitterbug" is included. Rest assured that every word of the screenplay is left intact. (How many will YOU know?)

"We're Off To See The Wizard', "If I Only Had A Brain", "Ding Dong, The Witch Is Dead". "The Merry Old Land of Oz". (Will there be a sing-along in the venerable Playhouse?)

One fascinating element is how it effects children and adults differently. "The Wizard of Oz" speaks to your feelings, not your intellect. It comforts and inspires. Children identify with Dorothy's fears. Adults...with their dreams.

We see all the fantastic adventures through her wide and innocent eyes. A young girl is sent down a perilous path. Along the way, she must slay wicked witches and stand up to mighty wizards. Dorothy's journey to Oz is one of self-discovery, a spiritual passage from adolescence to adulthood. Her destiny is hers to determine. No one else can do it for her. She teaches all of us that we can confront our fears - either real or imagined - and determine our own future.

Nov 14-19 TheGrandWilmington.org 302.888.0200

Next Up: Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" Sunday Nov 26

The Illusionists - Live From Broadway (High Tech Magic) Dec 21-23

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