Margaret Ann Gates, Lawrence Street Arrive in Colorado For The Wizard of Oz

This summer, Louisville is playing host to two popular Broadway stars, Margaret Ann Gates (Miss Saigon, The King and I) and Lawrence Street (Urinetown, South Pacific). Gates and Street are here to direct and choreograph The Wizard of Oz, the debut production for Colorado's newest professional summer theatre company, The Colorado Repertory Theatre.

The two Broadway veterans were commissioned by The Art Underground to create a New York quality summer musical that features a superb cast of hand-picked professional actors. The show delivers high-end production values including actors "flying" over the stage.

Based on the novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, The Wizard of Oz first played on Broadway in 1903 and later inspired the Hollywood movie starring Judy Garland. The movie won three Academy Awards in 1939, including Best Original Song for "Over the Rainbow." The Library of Congress has named The Wizard of Oz the most-watched motion picture in history.

"We hope families all over the Front Range will bring their children to Louisville to see Dorothy and Toto dancing down the yellow brick road," said Lori Jones, founder and director of The Art Underground. "We are very fortunate to have Broadway's Margaret Ann Gates and Lawrence Street bringing their musical theatre expertise and their special creative magic to Louisville's first professional summer stock production."

TICKET INFORMATION
The Colorado Repertory Theatre production of The Wizard of Oz opens Friday, July 15th and offers nine performances through Sunday, July 24th. All seats are reserved. Tickets are $15 to $22. Performances are at 1341 Main Street, Louisville, Colorado. For directions to the theater and to purchase tickets online, please visit www.theartunderground.org.

ABOUT THE ART UNDERGROUND
Located in historic Downtown Louisville, The Art Underground offers dance, theatre, music, photography, film and visual arts classes and hosts workshops, art galleries/exhibits and other events that include Broadway performers, credentialed visual arts teachers and dance and music leaders. For details: www.theartunderground.org. Updates regarding The Wizard of Oz cast and crew are on Facebook.