The Wizard of Oz
Near West Theatre
Cleveland, OH (Gordon Square)
Community Theatre
By L. Frank Baum
With Music and Lyrics by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg
Background Music by Herbert Stothart
Dance and Vocal Arrangements by Peter Howard
Orchestration by Larry L. Wilcox
Adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company
Based upon the Classic Motion Picture owned by Turner Entertainment Co. and distributed in all media by Warner Bros.
November 17 - December 3, 2023
Show Description:
Frank Baum’s classic novel comes to life on the Near West Theatre stage! This adaptation features all the songs and moments from the 1939 classic film, that you know and love. Dorothy Gale is swept away by a tornado from her home in Kansas to the magical Land of Oz. There, she encounters a group of whimsical characters, from witches, good and bad, to munchkins, to flying monkeys, oh my! To make her way home, she must follow the Yellow Brick Road to meet the all-powerful Wizard in Emerald City. Along the way, she makes new friends, who on the journey, find things within themselves they never knew existed. They have to use their brains, follow their hearts, and find the courage to defeat the Wicked Witch of the West, who will stop at nothing to get her hands on Dorothy and her magical ruby slippers. To make it back safely, Dorothy must learn an important lesson: there’s no place like home.
Staff and Cast
Director: Trinidad Snider
Musical Director: Matthew Dolan
Cast:
Elisa Gauntner - Dorothy Gale
Bethany Beckham - Aunt Em/Glinda
Christian McGinnis - Uncle Henry/Emerald City Guard
Amaya Moore - Scarecrow/Hunk
Perren Hedderson - Tin Man/Hickory
Jordan Cooper - Cowardly Lion/Zeke
Anna Loehrke - Almira Gulch/Wicked Witch
Shamus Dickinson - Professor Marvel/The Wizard of Oz
Amara Alberto - Pit Singer
Amanda Bender - Featured Dance Ensemble
Julianna Blischak - Featured Dance Ensemble/ u/s Aunt Em, Glinda
Joshua Browning - Ensemble
Harlann Caraballo - Ensemble
Margaret Chapman - Pit Singer/ u/s Almira Gulch, Wicked Witch
Sara Chapman - Ensemble
Brooke Cicerchi - Featured Dance Ensemble
Melora Dodge - Ensemble
Maxine Eadie - Ensemble
Vivienne Eadie - Ensemble
Demi Eidson - Featured Dance Ensemble
Michael Emery Fox - Featured Dance Ensemble
Richie Gagen - Ensemble/ u/s Tin Man
Ascencion "Suni" Garcia Prignitz - Ensemble
Guadalupe Garcia Prignitz - Ensemble
Sandra Gay Chapman - Ensemble
Tom Hill - Ensemble
Noah Hrbek - Ensemble
Andrea Huynh - Pit Singer/ u/s Dorothy
Donnell James - Ensemble
Piper Kane - Ensemble
Connor Karboksi - Ensemble
Keco Kent - Ensemble/ u/s Cowardly Lion
Michayla King - Ensemble
Anthony "Bones" Kruse - Ensemble/ u/s Uncle Henry, Emerald City Guard
Simone Larsen - Ensemble
Carole Leiblinger-Hedderson - Ensemble
Nick Maistros - Ensemble
Lucia Millard - Ensemble
Olivia Moore - Featured Dance Ensemble
Samuel Moyer - Ensemble
Kathryn O'Sullivan - Featured Dance Ensemble
Clayton Obertacz - Ensemble
Josie O'Leary - Ensemble
Ron O'Leary - Ensemble
CC Pantalone - Pit Singer
Phil Pantalone - Pit Singer
Sam Pantalone - Pit Singer
Reese Reichel - Ensemble
Dani Scaggs - Featured Dance Ensemble
Loren Sciulla - Featured Dance Ensemble
Rose Shakarian Kvidera - Ensemble
Yamini Sridhar - Ensemble
Abigail Strozewski - Ensemble
Esther Tan - Ensemble
Teddy Tan - Ensemble
Moth Teets - Ensemble/ u/s Scarecrow
Mack Van Lier - Ensemble
Lydia Whitehouse - Ensemble
Brayden Yancy - Ensemble
Robert Zombar - Ensemble
Showtimes:
7:30pm Thursday (11/30 only)
7:30pm Fridays
7:30pm Saturdays
2pm Sundays (No performance 11/19)
Runtime: 2h 20m (includes 15m intermission)
Health and Safety Guidelines
COVID-19 PROCEDURES AS OF JULY 1, 2022
Tickets are emailed to patrons to limit the buildup of traffic in our entryway. Tickets can be presented on a cellphone from a confirmation email or they can be printed at home. For patrons that cannot access either of these options, we will be able to look up your tickets at the Box Office.
Please have your tickets ready and on hand when arriving at the doors of the theatre. Patrons should arrive with their whole group, ready to be seated.
There is a 10-minute intermission for the audience to use the restrooms and head outside to the Sullivan Plaza for fresh air.
Near West Theatre will communicate updates via text messaging and emails. Please be sure to add info@nearwesttheatre.org to your email contacts to make sure you do not miss any important announcements.
MASKING
As of July 1, 2022, Near West Theatre is no longer requiring audience members to wear masks during performances on our mainstage. Masks are still highly recommended and we ask those that are unvaccinated to please mask while in our building. Cloth, surgical, and KN95 masks are all accepted. Surgical masks are available free of charge at the box office.
SEATING
The house will remain at full capacity. Reserved seating is available.
REFUNDS & RESCHEDULING
Anyone who has been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or is exhibiting symptoms or feeling ill, is asked to stay home. Arrangements can be made with Near West Theatre for an alternate date or refund.
KNOW THE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19:
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Chills
Repeated shaking with chills
Muscle pain
Headache
Sore throat
Loss of taste or smell
Diarrhea
Feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit.
Known close contact with a person who is lab-confirmed to have COVID-19
Find a location near you through the Ohio Department of Health website.
Near West Theatre has endured significant financial loss due to the cancellation of live performances since March of 2020. If able, you are invited to make an additional donation when you purchase your tickets to a show, or you can give here. Your support enables us to keep ticket pricing low for all members of our community.
Content Advisories
Bring It On is rated PG-13. The show contains some profanity.
Location:
Near West Theatre
6702 Detroit Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44102