'Wiz' kids
LA County High School for the Arts brings ‘Wizard of Oz’ to life at the Alex
By Carl Kozlowski 11/19/2009
IF THERE’S ONE THING ON EARTH THAT MAKES THEATER LOVERS CRINGE, IT HAS to be high school musicals. And this time of year, nearly every school on earth is preparing performances of “The Nutcracker” to bore students’ families to tears.
So, thank God for the innovative-sounding production of “The Wizard of Oz” as a live musical onstage at the historic Alex Theatre in Glendale, with the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts teaming up with the ambitious Full Circle Opera.
Project for a show that seems ready to breathe new life into the time-worn fantasy. With the classic Judy Garland film marking its 70th anniversary this year, this is a great time to revisit the fairy tale with fresh eyes. Yes, this is
the classic L. Frank Baum story of young Dorothy and her adventures en route to the fabulous city of Oz, meeting a talking Tin Man, Lion and Scarecrow along the way. And while its modern and zippy musical spinoff “Wicked” played for seemingly decades at Hollywood’s Pantages Theater, this current production based on the original source material should serve to teach young viewers how a great entertainment is really done.
Mixing vibrant performances from the young cast with the seasoned training offered by Full Circle — started by Los Angeles opera singer Stephanie Vlahos several years ago as a means of recruiting new generations of high school talent to help keep opera alive and contemporary — this production of “Oz” should prove to be not only a fun night out for for families, but a bold step forward for its up-and-coming talents.
“The Wizard of Oz” will play at 8 p.m. Friday and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. Tickets are $18 to $20. (818) 243-ALEX or visit alextheatre.org or lachsa.org.
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