The production will feature narration by Host and Moderator of WETA's Around Town and SiriusXM's Symphony Hall, Robert Aubry Davis as well as 120 artists from the Young Artists of America Orchestra and Vocal Ensemble.
For this production, over 175 students from across the DC-Metro area auditioned, and rehearsals have been held twice a week. Students are mentored and trained by Co-Founders and brothers, Rolando and Kristofer Sanz (Producing Artistic Director and Music Director, respectively) as well as Paul Heinemann, Director of Young Artists of America junior, and Associate Artistic Director, Terry Eberhardt.
Young Artists of America
Additional mentors for this production include Sarah Lasko, who played Dorothy in the recent national tour of THE WIZARD OF OZ, as well as Dr. Dominic McHugh, a leading British expert on Hollywood musicals.
Not only is this production led by many fabulous professional staff; but the main cast members, who are all current High School students, demonstrate a sense of training and talent far beyond their years. Sam Nasar, who plays the Cowardly Lion, says that one of his favorite parts about performing in the production was getting to do character work with Sarah Lasko, who played Dorothy from the most recent National Tour.
Vivian Douglass, a member of the ensemble as well as the understudy for Dorothy, says that, "Being in this production is the first time I've been in a show where I've found that my talent has finally been matched by everyone in the room, and that I finally feel like I found a place I belong."Jamie Goodson, who plays the role of Dorothy says that, "This is an iconic musical that is absolutely worth seeing. Seeing young people experience the emotional journey of this show is beautiful, really. Children will love it, adults will love it, everyone will love it."
When asked of Ethan Miller, who plays the Scare Crow, why people should be interested in attending this production, he says, "This show allows a person to touch into your past in such a youthful and powerful way."Rolando Sanz, the Producing Artistic Director and Co-Founder of Young Artists of America, discusses how the relevancy of this show is directly related to how we travel through life, "We grow up, want to get away, finally go away, but inevitabley cant wait to come back to where it all started. As we work, we'll always feel the desire to come home. This show is the soundtrack of our childhood."
Through mentorship and individualized instrstruction from world-renowned musicians, the student artists train collaboratively to perform fully orchestrated, classical, and musical theater concerts in state-of-the-art venues around the Washington DC area. Additionally, Young Artists of America is the first known program of its kind in the nation to specialize in performing opera with all high school students and full orchestra.
To date, Young Artists of America has had over 65+ Proffesional Guest Mentors including Tony award-winning Broadway Composers Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, Godspell), Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home, Shrek the Musical), Steven Lutvak (Gentleman's Guide), Andrew Lippa (Big Fish, The Addams Family) and Jason Robert Brown (The Bridges of Madison County, The Last Five Years), to name a few.
