The greatest family musical of all time, THE WIZARD OF OZ is
touching down in Houston at
the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts (800 Bagby) from April 7-19, 2009. Tickets are available at the Hobby Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster
outlets, by calling 713-629-3700 or online at
www.BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com.
Photo by Joan Marcus.
Tickets On Sale Now
WE'RE NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE.....THE WIZARD OF OZ Travels Over the Rainbow to Houston, Texas!
HOUSTON, TX…The greatest family musical of all time, THE WIZARD OF OZ, is touching down in Houston as NETworks Presentations and Cadillac Broadway Across America-Houston brings this national treasure to the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts (800 Bagby) April 7-19.
Tickets to THE WIZARD OF OZ start at $21. Tickets are available by calling (713) 629-3700 or online at www.BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com. Groups of 20 or more, call (888) 451-5986 or e-mail Houston.groups@broadwayacrossamerica.com.
Performances are Tuesday – Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
This magical production, based on the Royal Shakespeare Company’s celebration of the 1939 MGM movie, is presented with breathtaking special effects that will sweep audiences away, from the moment the tornado twists its way into Kansas .
Director Nigel West, choreographer Leigh Constantine and set and costume designer Tim McQuillen-Wright utilize the glamour and elegance of art deco Hollywood as the visually stunning technicolor backdrop for THE WIZARD OF OZ. Dorothy, Toto and their friends the Cowardly Lion, Tin Man and Scarecrow are transported “Over the Rainbow” to adventures in Munchkin Land , the Haunted Forest , and the Emerald City .
The magical production of THE WIZARD OF OZ is based on the
Royal Shakespeare Company's celebration of the 1939 MGM movie, is presented with
breathtaking special effects that will sweep audiences away, from the moment the
tornado twists its way into Kansas. THE WIZARD OF OZ is touching down in
Houston at
the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts (800 Bagby) from April 7-19, 2009. Tickets are available at the Hobby Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster
outlets, by calling 713-629-3700 or online at
www.BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com.
Photo by Joan Marcus.
Featuring the classic songs, as composed by Harold Arlen, “Over the Rainbow,” “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead” and “If I Only Had A Brain,” along with the beloved characters, THE WIZARD OF OZ will have the entire family captivated as they travel down the yellow brick road for an unforgettable evening at the theater.
For more information visit: www.wizardofozontour.com
THE WIZARD OF OZ is being produced by NETworks Presentations, LLC. For more information visit http://www.networkstours.com.
CALENDAR LISTING:
April 7-19 – Cadillac Broadway Across America - Houston presents THE WIZARD OF OZ at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, 800 Bagby. Performances are Tuesday – Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. Wheelchair accessible. Starting at $21, tickets to THE WIZARD OF OZ are available at these authorized outlets; Hobby Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling (713) 629-3700 or online at www.BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com. Groups of 20 or more, call (888) 451-5986 or e-mail Houston.groups@broadwayacrossamerica.com.
Join our social community! For up-to-the-minute news including videos, news articles, photos, and more visit, Broadway Across America-Houston on Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter.com/baahouston.
Broadway Across America : Owned and operated by British theatre producer John Gore (CEO) and entertainment industry veteran Thomas B. McGrath (Chairman), Broadway Across America presents first-class touring Broadway musicals and plays, family productions and other live events throughout a network of 43 North American cities. Broadway Across America is also dedicated to the development and production of new and diverse live theatre for productions on Broadway, across America and throughout the world. Broadway Across America most recently produced Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS on Broadway, while current and upcoming productions include WEST SIDE STORY, BLITHE SPIRIT, MINSKY’S, and the DeafWest production of PIPPIN. Broadway tours include DORA THE EXPLORER, FROST/NIXON, SPAMALOT, CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. For more information or to purchase tickets through an authorized agent go to BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com.
TOTO, WE'RE NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE.....The greatest family musical of all time, THE WIZARD OF OZ is
touching down in Houston at
the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts (800 Bagby) from April 7-19, 2009. Tickets are available at the Hobby Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster
outlets, by calling 713-629-3700 or online at
www.BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com.
Photo by Joan Marcus.
# # # #
There’s No Place Like Home
A review of the legendary musical The Wizard of Oz
By Theresa Pisula
Theresa@HoustonTheatre.com
Tuesday April 7th, 2009
Houston, Texas
Once upon a time, in a rich and prosperous land called Hollywood a long, long time ago in the year 1939 to be exact, there was a beautiful young girl named Judy Garland. She played the most coveted role of Dorothy in a grand movie production of The Wizard of Oz by Metro Goldwyn Mayer. Out of the numerous girls who were considered, she was chosen for the starring role. And Judy Garland became a historical movie icon as she sang the words to the legendary song…….
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Music by composer Harold Arlen and Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg
Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high,
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby.
Somewhere
over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.
Someday I'll
wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me.
Somewhere
over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly.
Birds fly over the rainbow.
Why then, oh why can't I?
If happy
little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?
I don’t know why but I never get tired of listening to that song especially when it is sung by the most angelic voice of Cassie Okenka. Ms. Okenka who graduated from the Baldwin Wallace–Conservatory of Music, is delighted to play the iconic character of Dorothy in Broadway Across America’s production of The Wizard of Oz. She sings the songs with such glorious power that it fills up the entire theater of the Hobby Center of the Performing Arts this night of April 7th, 2009. On this very evening, my BFF Dolores Gomez along with her daughter Loli, teenage son Ricky and I were “off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz.”
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
We're off to see the Wizard
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
We hear he is a Whiz of a Wiz
If ever a Wiz there was
If ever, oh ever, a Wiz there was
The Wizard of Oz is one because
Because, because, because, because, because
Because of the wonderful things he does
We're off the see the wizard
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Why do I consider Dolores Gomez one of my best friends of all? Because, because, because, because, because, because of all the wonderful things she does. And during our dinner at Artista restaurant, of which was fantastically delicious, young Loli puts sugar in her Dr. Pepper and in her very own words “…drank it a lot.” Needless to say, all that sugar got her bouncing off the theater walls.
When I picked up the tickets from Cadillac Broadway Across America-Houston Public Relations Director Meridyth Garcia, she told me about the incredible special effects of the show. And let me tell you, the audience was totally blown away by the Cyclone twister scene. This performance contained theatrical haze, strobe effects and pyrotechnics which can only be described as awesome. There was thunder, lightning and dizzying tornadoes. And as Loli Gomez describes it the best parts were the explosions and “the appearance of the Wicked Witch of the West.”
When Dorothy and Toto were still with Auntie Em in their farm yard in the Kansas prairie the colors were more desert brown, dull and monochromatic. Before the time she got lost far, far away from home. After the tornado, she ends up in Munchkinland where the colors were brighter, clearly distinctive and more effervescent. Under the direction of the brilliant Nigel West, he intentionally contrasted the setting colors against the strange and fairy tale Munchkinland versus the familiar, dull farm land scene.
In Munchkinland, Dorothy asks for guidance and was told to follow the yellow brick road. And she wanders this strange land and encounters the scarecrow who could walk, dance and sing…
If I Only Had a Brain
I could wile away the hours
Conferrin' with the flowers
Consultin' with the rain
And my head I'd be scratchin'
While my thoughts were busy hatchin'
If I only had a brain
I'd unravel any riddle
For any individ'le
In trouble or in pain
Oh, I would tell you why
The ocean's near the shore
I could think of things I never thunk before
And then I'd sit and think some more
I would not be just a nuffin'
My head all full of stuffin'
My heart all full of pain
I would dance and be merry
Life would be a ding-a-derry
If I only had a brain
And then off they went, you know how it goes, just like my daily commute down the 610 Freeway down the yellow brick road. And along the way they meet the Tin Man who sings “If I Only Had a Heart.” And as they are trippin’ down the road, they encounter the cowardly Lion who sings “If I Only Had the Nerve.” You know the drill they set out for the Emerald City to find the Wizard of Oz.
During this adventurous journey they keep bumping into both witches, the evil one from the west and the good witch of the north. As it seems, again courtesy of the magnificent special effects of Lighting Designer Bob Bonniol and Flying by Foy Aerographics both witches seem to be suspended in mid-air. The Good Witch dressed in a wedding-white dress adorned with sparkling glitter traveled around in a gleaming, perfectly round bubble. The Wicked Witch on the other hand flew around in her broom and was shooting sparks at the scarecrow trying to get him to catch on fire.
By the end of the show, Dorothy still does not get to go home. Even though all her compadres (friends) get what they need from the Wizard of Oz. Dorothy still does not get to go home even though this is the one thing she traveled and labored all this time for…
I just want to go home…
I just want to go home…
Why can’t I just go home?
There’s no place like home…
As I watch the scene and hear her lamenting, I start to hear people around me literally sobbing and completely emotional about Dorothy trying to just go home. But why, people? Every audience member and I have seen this scene a million times before. You’ve seen the movie and you know how it’s going to end. So why are you crying, people?
You know why? Because of Dorothy, we each know individually how it feels like to be home. To be home is to feel safe and secure. And to not be home is to feel lost and disoriented. And you’re struggling to find your way back home. Like when you’re trying to get somewhere you’ve never been before. And you get off the wrong exit off the major freeway. And you know deep down that you’re totally and incredibly lost without a GPS or a navigation system to guide you back on the right track. Maybe not just geographically but sometimes also feeling emotionally lost. And you can’t find your way back to that personal comfort level.
And you hear Dorothy with Toto in hand trying to find her way back safe and sound into Auntie Em’s loving arms chanting repeatedly
There’s no place like home…
There’s no place like home…
There’s no place like home…
That deep emotional feeling is where all the audience members’ sobs were coming from. That place within your heart, memorized within the darkest recesses of your brain. And with the ultimate courage within your soul to honestly admit that this home is the place where you need to be. This “home” is where peace, love and joy within you reside. This is the place you know where you feel safe, calm and secure. This is your home.
And this is the reason why we love The Wizard of Oz so much. No matter how many times we’ve seen the movie, we will see it again. This is the reason why this show is sold out to maximum capacity that Easter weekend in Houston on the year of 2009. Never mind the fact that we already know how the story ends. And never mind all those tabloid rumors and myths about the iconic Judy Garland’s drug addiction, alcoholism and domestic abuse. The reason we love to watch the Wizard of Oz over and over again is because it is our home. And since there’s no place like home we all lived happily ever after.
“As for my feelings toward “Over The Rainbow”, it’s become part of my life. It is so symbolic of all my dreams and wishes that I’m sure that’s why people sometimes get tears in their eyes when they hear it.” -----A quote from Judy Garland