Announcing cast of 70 of region’s talent and tickets now on sale
Theatre Bristol presents the musical classic “The Wizard of Oz” on stage at the Paramount Center for the Arts, weekends June 21-30. Kenn Naegele directs a cast of more than 70 from around the region in celebration of the 80th anniversary of the treasured movie. Tickets are on sale now at www.ParamountBristol.org.
“The Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum, with music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg, is the favorite tale of a Kansas farm girl who travels over the rainbow to discover the magical power of home. It includes iconic song “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” along with “Merry Old Land of Oz,” “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead,” “If I Were King of the Forest,” and many more.
Director Kenn Naegele has performed in and directed more than 60 productions in his career in New York State and Tennessee. He most recently directed Theatre Bristol’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and ANNIE at the Paramount Center for the Arts, as well as South Pacific.
The cast includes Whitney Brooks as Dorothy, Mary Beth Rainero as the Wicked Witch of the West, Rachel Cinnamon as Glinda, Jim Altman as Scarecrow, Michael Locke as Tin Man, Jacob Mangrum as Lion, Kennetha Sproles as Aunt Em, David Taylor as Uncle Henry, Will Hankins as the Wizard/Professor Marvel, and Theo Wallace as Toto.
The Munchkins are Alice Hitch, Avery White, Azleigh Cunningham, Bethany Godsey, Braelyn Winchell, Carter Lawson, Charlotte Osborne, Chloe Campbell, Erica LaFollette, Ethan Boothe, Everild Blackburn, Gavin Sennet, Gavin Taylor, Henry Moody, Lilly Hankins, Makayla Gilland, Marley Bishop, Maylee Marshall, and Spencer Mangrum
The crows are Koty Peak, Phillip Bolick, and Wyatt Peters and the trees are Marilyn Moxie, Tracy Campbell, and Christy Peters.
The Ozians are Steve Baskett, Tracy Campbell, Angela Harman, Rachel Locke, Logan Smith, Wyatt Peters, Gabe Canter, Lee Anne Hitch, Nikki Winchell, Octavia Phelps, Alisha Tremblay, Konley Smith, Mason White, Ruthie Cinnamon, Jessica LaFollette, Tessa Harmon, Raina Moody, Zaiah Gray, Christy Peters, Claire Hankins, Gwynnie Harmon, and Faith Vance.
The Jitterbugs are Seth Gilstrap, Phillip Bolick, Enelisa Sutton, Morgan Whitaker, Luke Gray, Megan Wyatt, Logan Smith, and Cameron Roberts.
The Winkies are Konley Smith, Luke Gray, Seth Gilstrap, Koty Peak, Phillip Bolick, Gabe Canter, and David Taylor.
The Flying Monkeys are Zaiah Gray, Tessa Harmon, Raina Moody, Mason White, and Claire Hankins.
The Poppies are Addy Riddle, Avery Davidson, Avery White, Azleigh Cunningham, Carlie Whitaker, Charlotte Osborne, Darby Massengill, Georgia Massengill, Lilly Hankins, Marley Bishop, and Stella Sexton.
Naegele is supported by music director Don McGregor, choreographer and costumer Camille Gray, stage manager Nicole Intagliata, tech director Ken Cornett, scenic designer Deanna Vanders, master carpenter Steve Baskett, dance captains Cameron Roberts, Morgan Whitaker, and crew Cindi Brooks, David Maloney, Joshua Click, Brittany Wallace, Albert Tester, Ann Vance, Beverly Moody, Terra White, Devon White, Lauren Brooks, Lauren Houser, Zaiah Gray, Temmy Roberts, Andrew Hunt, Dan Gray, Matthew Maloney, Dottie Havlik, Robert Havlik, Maliah Tilley, Bailey Lowe, Riley Lowe, and producer Samantha Gray.
The Wizard of Oz opens June 21, and runs for two weekends at the Paramount Center for the Arts, Fridays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 7:30 pm, and Sundays at 2:30 pm, closing on June 30. There is also one morning show on Friday, June 21 at 10:30 am. Tickets are $16 for adults plus fees and $12 for seniors and students plus fees, and are on sale at www.ParamountBristol.org.
Theatre Bristol’s is pleased to present The Wizard of Oz as part of its family-friendly 54th season of ARTspace and Paramount shows, including Cinder Red Riding Hood and the Seven Dwarfs, Sherlock Holmes, The Trial of the Big Bad Wolf, Into the Woods, and Miracle on 34th Street.
The Wizard of Oz is presented by arrangement with Tams-Witmark (www.tamswitmark.com). Support for Theatre Bristol is provided by United Company Foundation, Tennessee Arts Commission, HVAC, Inc., Summit BSR, and Seaman Corp.
Founded in 1965, Theatre Bristol is the oldest continually running children’s theatre in northeast Tennessee. Its Main Stage season consists of up to six productions. Some of its performances take place in the ARTspace, a multi-purpose, black box theatre which seats up to 120, and other performances are on stage at the Paramount Center for the Arts. Theatre Bristol is volunteer run and we invite you to get involved.
For more information, visit Theatre Bristol’s website or Facebook page, contact Theatre Bristol at 423-212-3625, or email info@theatrebristol.org.