The wonderful ‘Wizard of Oz; Classic to close 40th MCT season
Published 10:59 am Thursday, August 20, 2015
Dorothy, played by Sydney Bacon, is hailed after her home fell on the Wicked Witch of the East during rehearsal for the Matchbox Children’s Theatre presentation of “The Wizard of Oz.” — Photos by Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Matchbox Children’s Theatre is finishing its 40th season with a classic.
Matchbox will perform “The Wizard of Oz” starting with a show for parents and family Thursday night at 7 p.m. Shows will be open to the public at 7 p.m. Friday and at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
“We always try to find a show that’s going to have a good-sized cast that’s going to be something that’s fun for people to see,” Director Angela Donovan said. “And ‘The Wizard of Oz’ is a great show.”
The Good Witch of the North, played by Jasmine Edge, welcomes the arrival of Dorothy, played by Sydney Bacon during rehearsal of “The Wizard of Oz,” put on by the Matchbox Children’s Theatre.
The play features a cast of all children, and Donovan said they’re excited for the upcoming show.
Some of the children have been in shows before, but Donovan said many of the actors are new this year.
“So it’s a new experience for them,” she said.
The show is based off the classic children’s book, which is slightly different from the movie, according to Donovan.
“I think it’s not the traditional, movie version that everybody knows. It’s more based off of the book,” she said. “So it has silver slippers in it, which is traditional to the story.”
Donovan hopes people will find the differences in this version exciting, but still be able to remember their own childhood.
“Just about everyone loves ‘The Wizard of Oz’ or knows it, so they get to enjoy a little bit different version and still reminisce about their childhood,” she said. “And for kids, if some of them aren’t familiar to the story just to see a new, exciting story.”
Tickets for the show are $5 for children and $7 for adults and will be available at the door.
To celebrate the 40th season, Matchbox organizers will host an open house, which is open to the public, at 5 p.m. Sunday in the upstairs area of the Austin ArtWorks Center.
Matchbox’s season ends with “The Wizard of Oz,” but the group’s 41st season will begin with the Halloween Warm-Up at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center on Oct. 9 and 10.
For more information, email info@matchboxchildrenstheatre.org or call at 507-437-9078.
