The Wizard of Oz
by Christian Community Theater
by Christian Community Theater
Warning! The top of Mount Helix is crawling with lions and tigers and bears. Not to mention winged monkeys, enormous jitterbugs, and wicked witches. All residents should evacuate their homes immediately, follow the nearest Yellow Brick Road … and watch them!
101 years after L. Frank Baum published his landmark book, The Wizard of Oz, people of all ages are still flocking to see this magical story brought to new life. And bringing the story to new life is exactly what Christian Community Theater has done under the brilliant direction of Paul Russell. They've done so in two ways, by adding several new alterations to the classic story, and by reaching back to the past.
Impressively, all of the little things CCT added work extremely well. I won't give you the specifics, cuz that would take all of the fun out of it if you go see it. But there's an exciting entrance for the Wicked Witch of the West (Elouise Potomac), a Good Witch (Janie d'Avignon) with a bit of an attitude, smart-aleck crows (Malissa Borden, Matt Herriman, and Joey Minnich) with even bigger attitudes, a cowardly Lion (Dan Walsh) finding the Tin Man's oil can in the most unlikely of places, a hilarious new "melting" scene, and a surprise Twilight Zonish ending.
The "new" things from the past are the lively costumes designed by Terri Davis and Clark Mires, and inspired by pictures from Baum's books rather than the movie. Most of them are splashed with brighter and more dazzling colors, from Dorothy's dress to the Munchkin's jazzy outfits to the Winkie uniforms. The Lion looks more like a toy lion doll, and the Tin Man is made up of ordinary tin parts that might have been found in turn-of-the-century Kansas.
An additional nod to Baum includes an innovative set design (David Kievit) that incorporates the flat, second dimensional settings of the storybooks. A smoothly curved lip rising up at the back of the stage served a thousand and one uses, including storm cellar, entrance to the Emerald City, screen for the Wizard of Oz's great and terrible face, and a slide down to the rest of the stage.
Performing amongst those stage props and within those costumes was a talented group of actors. Dorothy, played by West Hills High School senior Christina Hambrick, has a tremendous voice and speaks with the same sweet, innocent, and optimistic voice that Judy Garland perfected for the role. Other great singers in the cast include the If-I-Only-Had-a-Brain Scarecrow (Stephen Knoll-Gentry) and the beautiful Good Witch of the North Glinda (Janie d'Avignon), who is also the Musical Director of CCT and who played The Sound of Music's Maria in CCT's very first show 21 years ago. And speaking of voices, Dan Walsh had the cowardly Lion's voice down pat, and his cowardly mannerisms were hysterical.
Dancing-wise, the Tin Man (Aaron Pomeroy) astounds with his tap dancing prowess that would be impressive for a skilled dancer made of flesh and blood, much less a man made of tin handicapped by a year's worth of rust. Wicked-wise, Elouise Potomac was deliciously devilish as the evil, cackling Wicked Witch intent on inheriting her late sister's ruby slippers. And wizard-wise, Bob White shined big and bright with terrific facial expressions as his humongous facial image scared the wits out of Dorothy and the rest.
Rounding out the cast was a fantastic ensemble of merry munchkins, menacing monkeys, overly-happy Ozians, and jitterbugging Jitterbugs, all helping to bring the magical land of Oz to life like never before.
Rob Hopper
San Diego Playbill
~ Cast ~
Dorothy: Christina Hambrick
Aunt Em: Charlene Dibelka
Uncle Henry: Steve Gentry
Zeke/Lion: Dan Walsh
Hickory/Tin Man: Aaron Pomeroy
Hunk/Scarecrow: Stephen Knoll-Gentry
Professor Chester Marvel/Oz: Bob White
Miss Gultch/Wicked Witch: Elouise Potomac
Glinda: Janie d'Avignon
Winkie General: Matt Herriman
Nikko (Monkey Commander): Shannon Fitzpatrick
Mayor: Tim Manns
Coroner: Robert Olson
Barrister: Amanda Friel
Toto: Penny
~ Lullaby League ~
Kara Bradel
Brooke Cannons
Juliann Friel
~ Lollypop Guild ~
Brent Cannons
Christian Parks
Zachary Wikholm
~ Ozian Women ~
Kelly Ayers
Malissa Borden
Sherry Evans
Tiffany Gilman
Dawn Newbegin
Autumn Phillips
Denise Plunk
Autumn Plunk
Bonnie Volz
Brittany Zemlick
Megan Tuohy
Bethany Zabrosky
~ Ozian Men ~
Sean Bohan
Justin Caster
Robbie Hambrick
Matt Herriman
Luke Jacobs
Braden McKinley
Joey Minnich
Erick Sundquist
~ Jitterbugs (Girls) ~
Courtney Evans
Shannon Fitzpatrick
Chelsea Lapp
Dawn Newbegin
Autumn Phillips
Kristina Robbins
Heidi Sugawa
Bonnie Volz
Brittany Zemlick
~ Jitterbugs (Boys) ~
Sean Bohan
Kevin Bradel
Justin Caster
Alex D'Avignon
Robbie Hambrick
Luke Jacobs
Braden McKinley
~ Monkeys ~
Shannon Cajka
Shannon Fitzpatrick
Meagan Flint
Gina James
Zachary Wikholm
Josh Sams
~ Munchkins ~
Joy Allen
Kara Bradel
Shannon Cajka
Brooke Cannons
Angela Dibelka
Mollie Esau
Allison Faucher
Meagan Flint
Amanda Friel
Juliann Friel
Sarah Hopkins
Gina James
Chelsea Lapp
Tim Manns
Addie McKinley
Halli Meth
Jason Mull
Jeffrey Mull
Robert Olson
Christian Parks
Zachary Wikholm
Katie Peterson (July 6th)
~ Winkies ~
Sean Bohan
Justin Caster
Luke Jacobs
Braden McKinley
Joey Minnich
Erick Sundquist
~ Crows ~
Malissa Borden
Matt Herriman
Joey Minnich
Director: Paul Russell
Musical Director: Janie d'Avignon
Choreographer: Vivian Valade
Costume Designers: Terri Davis and Clark Mires
Sound Designers: Larry Esau and Ron Withall
Lighting and Scenic Designer: David Kievit
Accompanist: Myrna Gowing
Conductor: Harvey Tellinghuisen
