Somewhere over the rainbow, some familiar territory presented in some unfamiliar ways awaits audiences taking in Gateway Theatre’s big holiday production of The Wizard of Oz.
Running Dec. 10 - Jan. 3 on the MainStage, director Barbara Tomasic told the Newsthe classic movie musical that hit the silver screen back in 1939 will have some unique interpretation for the stage thanks to tailored performances by the cast and an array of lighting and projected images that is right up there with cutting edge productions.
At the heart of the cast is 17-year-old Bridget Elser as Dorothy, whom Tomasic said offers a non-traditional take on the ruby-slippered orphan who finds three new friends — the Tin Man (Lindsay Warnock), Cowardly Lion (Tom Pickett) and Scarecrow (Victor Hunter) — on the way to the Emerald City.
Esler is no stranger to the Gateway, having appeared in productions of Fiddler on the Roofand Annie.
“She (Esler) looked at the idea of someone who was reeling from having her life go through a tornado and not knowing which way is up, like adolescence which we all go through,” Tomasic said. “And that is a really insightful approach.”
The true camaraderie Dorothy establishes with her three new companions during their journey also strikes at an overriding message in the production that the really important aspects in life are based on relationships with family and friends, Tomasic added.
It’s a story that’s perfect for the season without it specifically focusing on traditional family relationships and holiday time themes.
So, while there will be a new take on Dorothy, the production will have some mainstays, such as a cast of children playing diminutive Munchkins, a cute pup as Toto, a wicked witch (Tara Travis), and flying monkeys, whose acrobatic performances will have you believe they are capable of leaving the ground, Tomasic said.
Helping get the audience to hop a ride to the Emerald City will be the efforts of video and projection designer Sean Nieuwenhuis, whose previous work has been showcased on some prolific stages.
“He’s most recently worked with Kevin Bacon on Rear Window in Connecticut, and Dr. Zhivagoon Broadway,” Tomasic said. “Sean is really amazing and we’re lucky to have him work with our set designer to create these beautiful projections that we wanted to integrate in the show.
“Sometimes, you see projections in stage as a movie. We wanted to use them as sets that will really enhance the heart of the story, which most people already know.”
Working with such a familiar storyline is both a plus and a challenge, especially when it comes the theatre’s most-watched production of the season, said Jovanni Sy, Gateway’s artistic director.
He said the key is finding a family orientated production that will attract audiences and still provide them with a fresh look.
“There’s a lot of great imagining coming from our set, video and costume designers, as well as our director,” Sy said. “They’ve all done a really fantastic job interpreting a story that is so indelibly linked with the movie whose images are so strongly iconic and created imagery of their own world.
“It will be a feast for the eyes.”
Because Gateway’s Christmas season show has become such a beloved tradition for families, Sy said there is a regular quest to find a production that’s family appropriate and, “allows us to showcase, no pun intended, our wizardry at putting together a spectacle.”
And that often involves starting to sort through candidates for next year’s production as early as 18 months ahead of time.
“I’ve already got some shows in mind now,” Sy said, adding he couldn’t divulge a short list because contractual details are not close to being finalized. Plus, there is always a much-anticipated build up to Gateway’s announcement of the upcoming season’s line up.
“I am hesitant to say anything, but rest assured, it will be an extravaganza that is family friendly,” he said.
The Wizard of Ozruns Dec. 10 - Jan. 3. Show details and tickets are available online at gatewaytheatre.com.
