Review: THE WIZARD OF OZ Casts a Spell on Jackson

On February 7th, Dorothy, Toto, and all of their friends made a stop in Jackson, Mississippi on their way to the Emerald City. In addition to the young lady wearing the famous blue-checkered dress and Ruby Slippers on the stage, there were at least a dozen miniature Dorothys scattered throughout the audience in the auditorium of Thalia Mara Hall. The theater was packed with audience members of all ages who had come to experience the nostalgia and magic of the beloved movie musical The Wizard of Oz on stage.

Presented by APEX Touring, The Wizard of Oz is a part of the Broadway in Jackson series presented by Trustmark. Based on the movie of the same name, The Wizard of Oz tour features iconic music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg as well as fantastical choreography by Amy Marie McCleary. The production features incredible set projections and eye-catching costumes that lend the show an immersive, other-worldly feeling.

Leading lady Kalie Kaimann takes on the role of Dorothy Gale with an incredible similarity to Ms. Judy Garland, the actress who made the character famous on screen. Though not playing one of The Witches in this story, her big act one solo "Over the Rainbow" seemed to cast a spell over the audience, keeping even the youngest attendees sitting awestruck in their seats. Her portrayal of Dorothy's plight quickly manages to win the support of the audience for her quest to return to Kansas. On her way to see the Wizard, Kaimann's Dorothy is joined by a scarecrow with no brain, a tin man with no heart, and a lion without courage, played by Chris Duir, Christopher Russell, and Victor Legarreta respectively. With charm and serious singing chops, each of these men contribute perfect comedic timing and have you rooting for them to get the thing they believe they lack from the moment Dorothy happens upon them. In addition to playing the repugnant Miss Gulch, Megan Orlowski donned the infamous green skin of the Wicked Witch of the West for this performance, and she played the part well. Scaring, scheming, and shrieking, she portrayed Dorothy's unintentionally inherited nemesis well. Ashleigh Thompson stayed home in Kansas and traveled around Oz by bubble on Wednesday night, taking on the roles of Dorothy's Aunt Em and the good witch, Glinda, providing both the motivation and the guidance for Dorothy to return to Kansas with her lovely, comforting, sing-song voice. And, of course, one can't forget the incredible ensemble. Each of the singers and dancers in this cast were an absolute delight, providing quite a spectacle with their vivid costumes and choreography and backing that up with talent and joyousness.

The tour will be following the yellow brick road to McAllen, Texas on February 11th, and then on to Abilene, Texas on the 13th. A full tour schedule and links to follow to purchase tickets can be found by clicking on the link below. This is a truly wonderful show for the whole family that shouldn't be missed!

http://wizardofoztour.com/tour-dates/

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