Follow the Yellow Brick Road to the city of OC
Follow the yellow brick road over the rainbow to Ocean City Theatre Company’s unique telling of THE WIZARD OF OZ featuring the glorious sounds of the Ocean City POPS Orchestra. The magical production runs August 1-11 at the Hughes Performing Arts Center in Ocean City, NJ. In a special collaboration with the City of Ocean City, the production features a cast of accomplished musical theatre performers, spectacular musicians, and special effects by ZFX Flying.
Songs we know and love
Since the classic movie first delighted audiences in 1939, this marvelous musical fantasy continues to thrill kids and adults worldwide. Featuring the iconic musical score from the MGM film, this timeless tale includes the Academy Award-winning Over the Rainbow, plus Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead, If I Only Had a Brain, We’re Off to See the Wizard, and more of your family’s favorites. It’s a heart warmer for kids of all ages, and is planned to be a beautiful, one-of-a-kind experience on the stage of the Hughes Performing Arts Center, 6th Street and Atlantic Avenue.
The Ocean City Theatre Company and the Ocean City POPS Orchestra’s stage adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s beloved book brings to life the timeless tale of young Dorothy Gale traveling from Kansas over the rainbow to the magical Land of Oz. The MGM film THE WIZARD OF OZ, premiered at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on August 15, 1939, after a successful Broadway run for more than 30 years.
The staged musical version was adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company at the Barbican Centre in London in 1987 and features music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg, Background Music by Herbert Stothart, Dance and Vocal Arrangements by Peter Howard, and Orchestration by Larry Wilcox. THE WIZARD OF OZ is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC.
Doing it again
Sixteen summers ago, a sold-out run of THE WIZARD OF OZ was part of OCTC’s inaugural season as a nonprofit performing arts organization. Now celebrating the show’s “no place like home” theme, Founding Artistic Director Michael Hartman returns to direct OZ alongside OCTC’s original music director, Jonathan Kreamer, with choreography by Rachel Marlowe who originated the role of “Dorothy” in OCTC’s 2008 production. “Our production team is thrilled to revisit and reimagine a show that is very special to all of us,” said Hartman, “our goal is that audiences will be swept away on a journey that is familiar yet exhilaratingly refreshing.”
After a competitive audition process in New York City, Hartman has assembled a cast with incredible talent and heart. Joining the professional cast is a select group of students from OCTC’s educational programs who will make a “small” appearance in the munchkin ensemble, and an adorable dog named Maddox will tackle the role of “Toto.”
THE WIZARD OF OZ runs August 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, and 11 at 7:30pm with matinees on August 3 and 10 at 2:00pm. Tickets are $25-$30 and can be purchased at www.ocnj.us/boxoffice or by visiting any of the City of Ocean City Information Centers. You can also call 609-399-6111 for more information. Reservations are highly recommended!