There’s no place like SRT’s Oz
Think about it: during these hotter than Hades long hot summer days, a sweet retreat to air-conditioned bliss with an in-house ice cream is attractive enough but why not also blissfully escape into one of the most beloved musicals ever?
Sierra Repertory Theatre’s latest production, a fabulous, fun and utterly faithful stage adaptation of the iconic Wizard of Oz movie, has an awesome quotient that sends it soaring to the “tilt” level of its all-time best productions.
Based on the classic L. Frank Baum tale and adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the play shadows the original screenplay script and includes all the songs by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg as well as a previously cut verse from the Academy Award-winning song “Over the Rainbow” as well as “The Jitterbug,” an entire song and dance number that was created for but omitted from the movie.
New York City-based Maya Mays, last seen on the SRT stage as Rapunzel in Into the Woods, is spectacular as Dorothy Gale, the Kansas girl whose incredible journey to Oz and back depicts a colorful quest where friendship, courage, appreciation and coming together when it matters most wins the day.
As Hunk/Scarecrow, SRT regular Cameron Chang, last seen on the SRT stage as Hermey in Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer reprises a role he played in SRT’s 2019 production. Justin Burr as Hickory/Tin Man and Nick Ferrucci as Zeke/Cowardly Lion, who have also previously graced SRT productions are his endearingly charming chums.
SRT’s Lee and Laurie Strawn along with Kevin Heath wonderfully deliver in their roles of Professor Marvel/The Wizard of Oz, Auntie Em/Glinda the Good Witch of the North and Uncle Henry/The Emerald City Gate Guard. SRT favorite Brenda O’Brien, designed the hair and makeup, is literally a howl and a fright as Miss Almira Gulch/The Wicked Witch of the West. The cast is capably and colorfully rounded out by ensemble members Kate Henderson, Jackie Thompson, Ruby James, Kyle Moses, Philip Eng, Dexter Narron, Quinn and Bree Igoe, Rory Jordan, Autumn Doescher, Alice James and Matilda Narron.
The staging itself is a marvel with scenic design by Matthew Herman; costuming designed by SRT Artistic Director Jerry Lee and Diana Newington; choreography by Maggie Sniffin created for SRT’s 2019 production, led by Kate Henderson. Kudos are also due to lighting designer Justin Cahill-Kelley; sound designer Tatiana Covington-Parra and engineer Nick Depinto; properties designer Matthew Rose; music director Sean Paxton: stage and co-stage managers Michael Laun and Camryn Elias.
Lee, along with partner and SRT Executive Producer Scott Viets shared their thought about the show and why they chose it. “Simple compassion and strength in community are what carry us through storms. In Oz, it’s friendship, not magic, that saves the day,” Lee shared. Calling the story one of resilience, heart, and humor, Viets added, “We all get a little lost sometimes but when we reach out and lean on each other, we find our way back.”
The show runs through July 27 at Sierra Rep’s Fallon House Theatre at Columbia State Historic Park with four weekly matinees on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. and Wednesdays at noon along with evening performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. For further details and tickets, visit.sierrarep.org.
