Harlem Rep to Stage Jazzy THE WIZARD OF OZ for Young Audiences

Harlem Repertory Theatre will stage "The Wizard of Oz," co-produced by the Yip Harburg Foundation, for young (and young-at-heart) audiences October 8 to December 13 at Tato Laviera Theatre at Harlem Prep Elementary School, 240 East 123rd Street (at 3rd Ave.), Manhattan.

This production of the classic musical has a multi-racial cast, a jazzy underscore and authoritative dramaturgy by representatives of the Yip Harburg Foundation. The schedule offers weekday shows for school groups and Saturday matinees for the convenience of individual families. Director/choreographer is Keith Lee Grant, Artistic Director of Harlem Rep, who is in the midst of a four-year project of presenting four classic musicals that have lyrics by E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, who was known in his lifetime as the "social conscience of Broadway."

"The Wizard of Oz," with its timeless score and eternal allegories, is a magical experience for young (and young-at-heart) audiences. Based on MGM's Classic Motion Picture, the stage version to be mounted here follows John Kane's adaptation for the Royal Shakespeare Company, which is based on the book by L. Frank Baum, with brilliant songs by lyricist E.Y. ("Yip") Harburg and composer Harold Arlen.

Thanks to work of dramaturg Deena R. Harburg, Executive Vice President and Artistic Director of the Yip Harburg Foundation, in association with acclaimed librettist Arthur Perlman, New York audiences will have a chance to see the show sharpened to more of the original vision of E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, who was an unashamedly progressive thinker.

The cast is multi-racial and features Latino, Black and Asian actors, fulfilling Yip's vision of a multicultural universe. Dorothy, played by Taylor-Rey Rivera, is interpreted as a modern girl and future leader who is growing to realize the confidence she possesses. Her three Land-of-Oz friends--the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion--are envisioned as people of great potential who only need to actualize the heart, brains and courage they already have. One of the story's themes is how the weakness of adults forces children to seize their own destinies and, ironically, to grow up themselves. According to the Yip Harburg family, Yip wanted to address Dorothy finally going home as a leader. At Harlem Rep, Dorothy will come home to lead the rebuilding of her family's farm. All the "refocusing" is accomplished through the acting of the characters, without changing the iconic dialogue of the script.

Deena Harburg reminds us that "Oz" is also the story of three strong women--Dorothy and two witches--and illustrates how we need more woman leaders. Munchkinland and The Emerald City reflect Harburg's utopian dreams of societies that are egalitarian, without dictatorship of monarchy or religion. Interestingly, "Over the Rainbow" actually expresses the dream of an immigrant--or a would-be immigrant--for a better life in a far away land, a theme of contemporary resonance. This classic song is under-appreciated for this original intent, but is a poignant message in our time, when callousness toward the immigrant is one of our leading socio-political concerns. In the film and its theater adaptation, the song is only sung once. But in this production, it's reprised several times, once with a calypso feel that is reminiscent of the now-famous rendition that was broadcast a few years back on TV's "Glee", and recorded by Hawaiian singer Israel Kamakawiwo'ole.

Throughout the production, jazzy arrangements by percussionist Dan Aran, accompanied by musical director Dror Baitel are entwined with the classic arrangements in the score. These accents compliment the singing of Taylor-Rey Rivera, who introduces jazz colorations to Dorothy's solos with a soulful mezzo voice.

The actors are Taylor-Rey Rivera as Dorothy, A.J. Acevedo as the Professor/Wizard, Derrick Montalvado as Scarecrow, Dexter Thomas-Payne as Lion, Ben Harburg as Tin Man, Barbyly Noël as Aunt Em and Glinda, Paula Galloway as Miss Gulch and Wicked Witch of the West, Bereket Mengisti as Uncle Henry, Jenna Vega as Guard and Keiko Tomita and Wilyuly Lopez as ensemble.

Lighting design is by Brian Aldous. Set design is by Keith Lee Grant. Costume design is by Daniel Fergus Tamulonis. Projections are by Brian Blanco. Stage manager is Kyria Geneva.

E.Y. "Yip" Harburg was lyricist of the Depression anthem "Brother Can You Spare a Dime?" and such classic Broadway musicals as the anti-racist, anti-capitalist "Finian's Rainbow," and the socially conscious "Jamaica," "Bloomer Girl" and "Flahooley." Much of what he wrote was charged with progressive social vision. Today, his most familiar achievement are the lyrics for the film "The Wizard of Oz" and its signature song, "Over the Rainbow."

The Yip Harburg Foundation (www.yipharburg.com) was created after the lyricist's death to carry on his legacy and to promote educational opportunity, social/economic justice and world peace. Its President is Yip's son, Ernie Harburg, co-author of two books, "Who Put The Rainbow In The Wizard of OZ? Yip Harburg, Lyricist" and "The Broadway Musical: Collaboration in Commerce and Art." Deena R. Harburg, dramaturg of this production, is the founding chair of the unique NYU Tisch Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program, and the author of "Fascinating Rhythm: The Collaboration of George and Ira Gershwin" and "The Music Makers." She is proud to be Yip's daughter-in-law and Ernie's wife.

Director/choreographer Keith Lee Grant is Artistic Director of Harlem Repertory Theatre and a Professor in the Department of Theatre and Speech at CCNY. He holds an MFA from the Yale School of Drama, an MA from Penn State and a Certificate from the American Conservatory Theater's Advanced Training Program. He has directed and/or choreographed over 100 professional and university productions from "As You Like It, Pinero's "Short Eyes," Inge's "Picnic" to the musicals "Sweeney Todd," "A Little Night Music" and "Mame." He has performed on Broadway in "Marie Christine," "Showboat" and "Ragtime." He has worked Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons, York Theater, Jewish Repertory Theater, New Federal Theatre, AMAS Rep and New York Theater Workshop, among others. His regional credits include Yale Rep, Syracuse Stage, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. His Harlem Rep productions of "The Wiz" (2009) and "Dreamgirls" (2012) each won two AUDELCO awards (Best Director of a Musical and Best Choreography of a Musical).

The Harlem Repertory Theatre (www.harlemrepertorytheatre.com) is a non-profit theater committed to producing artistically and intellectually challenging productions that explore the experiences of a diverse range of ethnic, social and cultural communities. It stages new works and established classic musicals and plays from bold and innovative perspectives that challenge and/or reflect the Harlem community's cultural and social values. The troupe, under the leadership of Keith Lee Grant, has been in an ongoing exploration of Yip Harburg's work. It staged a critically-praised rendition of "Flahooley" at Harlem Rep and Theater for the New City in 2009-10. It is currently presenting a program of four more Yip Harburg musicals over four years: "The Wizard of Oz" (2016), "Jamaica" (2017), "Finian's Rainbow" (2018) and "Bloomer Girl" (2019).

For family audiences, there are performances on six Saturdays at 3:00 PM: October 8 & 29; November 5, 12 & 19; December 10. There is only one evening performance: Sunday, December 11 at 7:00 PM. Tickets to these performances are $10 general admission and $20 premium seating. To purchase tickets to these performances, call Smarttix at (212) 868-4444 or buy online at www.smarttix.com.

Especially for student groups (but not restricted to them), there are Tuesday performances at 10:00 AM and 12:30 PM on November 22, December 6 and December 13 (two shows each day). $9 tickets are available for student groups of any size. Single tickets for adults and kids may be purchased at the same price. Educators and individual buyers may reserve for these shows by calling Harlem Rep Business Office at (718) 913-9559 or emailing hrtbusiness240@gmail.com. Cash, credit cards and checks are accepted for these Tuesday performances.

Pictured: Derrick Montalvado (Scarecrow), Ben Harburg (Tin Man), Taylor-Rey Rivera (Dorothy), Dexter Thomas-Payne (Lion). Photo by Jonathan Slaff.

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