NOW PLAYING: Afterthought Theatre Company presents THE WIZ

Afterthought Theatre Company presents

The Wiz

Music and Lyrics by Charles Smalls & Book by William F. Brown
Directed by Bernie Cardell & Musical Direction by Trent Hines
 

Afterthought Theatre Company presents The Wiz now through September 24.  Many know the story of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, but in this musical version, it's a fantasy for today - mysterious, opulent and fanciful - a dream conjured up by a space-age child with Dorothy's adventures in the Land of Oz set to music in a dazzling, lively mixture of rock, gospel and soul.
 
The Wiz is a retelling of Frank L. Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It opened on October 21, 1974 at the Morris A. Mechanic Theatre in Baltimore, Maryland and moved to Broadway's Majestic Theatre with a new cast on January 5, 1975. That Broadway production won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The Wiz has had revivals in New York, London, San Diego and the Netherlands, and an Off Broadway Encores! concert version was staged in June 2009. 
 
The Wiz is directed by Bernie Cardell with music direction by Trent Hines and choreography by Kelly Van Oosbree. The multi-racial cast includes of Terence Ellison as Scarecrow, Faith Goins as Dorothy, Stephanie Hancock as Evillene,  TJ Hogle as The Lion, Curshion Jones as Tin Man, Mary Louise Lee (Hancock) as Glinda - (yes, the Mayor's wife!), Adrienne Martin-Fullwood as Aunt Em, Boni McIntyre as Addapearle and Shelley McMillion as The Wiz.
 
The show is choreographed by Kelly Van Oosbree and costumed by Cindy Franke. Both are recipients of 2010-2011 Colorado Theatre Guild Henry Awards for their work on the Performance Now production of The Music Man.
 
Afterthought Theatre Company is a new theater company in the Denver Metro Area. It was founded for the sole purpose of staging The Meeting by Jeff Stetson; however due to an outpouring of support from the community they are advancing their endeavor to bring quality Broadway and theatrical performances to Denver. Afterthought has found a home at 1468 Dayton Street in the newly renamed Dayton Street Theatre.

Afterthought Theatre Company presents The Wiz playing now through September 24 at the Dayton Street Theatre at 1468 Dayton Street in Aurora, CO.  Performances are Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 5:30 p.m.  Call the box office at 303-856-3797 for reservations or more information or visit them online at www.afterthoughttheatre.com.

Photo Credit: Sue Daniels