Western Canada Theatre (WCT) invites you on a magical journey to experience one of the largest musical productions in the company’s history. A spectacular, all-new production of The Wizard of Oz will captivate audiences of all ages at the Sagebrush Theatre from May 12th to 28th, 2022.
After a tornado transports her over the rainbow to the wonderful world of Oz, Dorothy and her beloved Toto are set off on an enchanting journey down the Yellow Brick Road in hopes of finding a way back to their home in Kansas.
With help from the Munchkins, Glinda the Good, and a few new (yet strangely familiar) friends, Dorothy and company will conquer enchanted cornfields, orchards, and forests - all while trying to avoid the Wicked Witch and her winged monkeys - on their way to the Emerald City.
With heart, brains, and courage, Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tinman, and the Cowardly Lion will discover the true meaning of home.
“The Wizard of Oz is a story of imagination, fantasy and friendship that has captivated our world for over a century,” says James MacDonald, WCT Artistic Director and The Wizard of Oz Director.
“The movie, and the stage musical on which it is based, is very much grounded in the vaudevillian sensibilities of the 1930s, which were a balm for a society that was feeling anxious, wary, and in need of ways to come together as a community.
The Wizard of Oz reminds us of a place of magic and wonder, a place where friendship, collaboration and community lead to a true sense of home.”
Filled with familiar characters and favourite songs from the iconic movie, MacDonald and the creative team bring new life to this classic musical with an innovative approach to the production design.
Featuring an upcycle-inspired Set Design by Narda McCarroll (past WCT credits included the holiday favourite A Christmas Carol) and Costume Design by Stephanie Kong (a CAFTCAD Award nominee making her WCT debut), both the set and costumes will incorporate recycled items donated by the local community during WCT’s “Go Emerald” Recycling Drive.
Audiences will see how everyday items have been transformed to bring this magical world to life on stage.
Lighting the way to Oz down a dazzling Yellow Brick Road is Wizard Lighting Designer John Webber (whose lighting designs were last seen in Chelsea Hotel).
Fresh musical arrangements and choreography influenced by vaudeville, the great American songbook, 1930s movie musicals and contemporary pop, are brought to life thanks to the talents of Musical Director and Arranger Ashley Ball (resident DJ/Producer at New York City’s award-winning immersive theatre experience, Sleep No More) and Choreographer Tracey Power (a local favourite who brought us two of this season’s hit productions, Chelsea Hotel and Hey Viola!).
Bringing their talents back to WCT are local Sound Engineer Doug Perry and Scenic Painter Hans Saefkow, both frequent WCT collaborators. The Stage Management team are also no strangers to WCT, including Laurel Oneil (The Sound of Music), Madison Henry (Chelsea Hotel, The Sound of Music and many more) and Victoria Snashall (Kim’s Convenience).
Starring as Dorothy is talented local teen Mandisa Volo, a Stage One Theatre School alum and current Kamloops School of the Arts Drama Major, who audiences will remember from The Sound of Music and Elf: The Musical.
Joining Dorothy on her spectacular journey are Robbie Towns as Scarecrow/Hunk (making his WCT Debut after performing all across Canada and the UK), Kirk Smith as Tinman/Hickory (a familiar face who has starred in several WCT productions including Dracula: The Bloody Truth, Elf: The Musical and A Christmas Carol, to name a few) and Andrew Cownden as Cowardly Lion/Zeke (another WCT fan favourite from productions such as The Comedy of Errors, Peter and the Starcatcher, My Fair Lady, and more).
Rounding out the incredible cast are Cecilly Day as Glinda/Aunt Em (WCT debut), Emma Slipp as Wicked Witch of the West/Miss Gulch (A Christmas Carol), Christopher Weddell as The Wizard of Oz/Professor Marvel (The Sound of Music), and Julien Arnold as Uncle Henry/Emerald City Guard (Million Dollar Quartet). The ensemble cast is filled with multi-talented actors, singers and dancers from Kamloops and across the country, including Kevin Owen Clarke, Jen Fong, Becky Frohlinger, Jake Kopytko, Stephanie McLean and Rem Murray.
As a company with a passion and commitment to youth theatre education, a WCT family musical wouldn’t be complete without highlighting the talents some of this city’s most talented young people.
Making their WCT Mainstage debut as The Wizard of Oz Youth Ensemble are Kaitlyn Brain, Brynn Collins, Brielle Ernst, Adam Fields, Eva-Marie Fox, Alya Van Laer, Anna MacFarlane, William McKay and Adison Thompson, plus Lukas Woods and Anna Hahn who were both previously in Elf: The Musical.
WCT is thrilled to welcome families, the young and young at heart, and theatre lovers old and new back to the theatre to rediscover friendship, community and home at The Wizard of Oz!
For tickets and information click here.
The Wizard of Oz
By L. FRANK BAUM | With Music & Lyrics by HAROLD ARLEN & E.Y. HARBURG | Background Music by HERBERT STOTHART | Dance & Vocal Arrangements by PETER HOWARD | Orchestration by LARRY WILCOX | Adapted by JOHN KANE for the Royal Shakespeare Company | Based upon the Classic Motion Picture owned by Turner Entertainment Co. & distributed in all media by Warner Bros.
Dates: May 12 to 28, 2022
Venue: Sagebrush Theatre, 1300 9th Ave, Kamloops, BC
Running time: approximately 2 hours and 25 minutes, including one 20-minute intermission
Cast: MANDISA VOLO, Dorothy | ROBBIE TOWNS, Scarecrow/Hunk | KIRK SMITH, Tinman/Hickory | ANDREW COWNDEN, Cowardly Lion/Zeke | CECILLY DAY, Glinda/Aunt Em | EMMA SLIPP, Wicked Witch of the West/Miss Gulch | CHRISTOPHER WEDDELL, The Wizard of Oz/Professor Marvel | JULIEN ARNOLD, Uncle Henry/Emerald City Guard | KEVIN OWEN CLARKE, Ensemble | JEN FONG, Ensemble | BECKY FROHLINGER, Ensemble | JAKE KOPYTKO, Ensemble | STEPHANIE McLEAN, Ensemble | REM MURRAY, Ensemble | KAITLYN BRAIN, Youth Ensemble | BRYNN COLLINS, Youth Ensemble | BRIELLE ERNST, Youth Ensemble | ADAM FIELDS, Youth Ensemble | EVA-MARIE FOX, Youth Ensemble | ANNA HAHN, Youth Ensemble | ALYA VAN LAER, Youth Ensemble | ANNA MacFARLANE, Youth Ensemble | WILLIAM McKAY, Youth Ensemble | ADISON THOMPSON, Youth Ensemble | LUKAS WOODS, Youth Ensemble
Musicians: JARED ALBRIGHT, Violin / Fiddle | JASON STARUIALA, Percussion | MARK VAN ZIEGLER, Bass
Creative Team: JAMES MacDONALD, Director | ASHLEY BALL, Musical Director/Arranger | TRACEY POWER, Choreographer | NARDA McCARROLL, Set Designer | STEPHANIE KONG, Costume Designer | JOHN WEBBER, Lighting Designer | DOUG PERRY, Sound Designer | HANS SAEFKOW, Scenic Painter | LAUREL ONEIL, Stage Manager | MADISON HENRY, Assistant Stage Manager | VICTORIA SNASHALL, Apprentice Stage Manager
About Western Canada Theatre
For over 45 years, Western Canada Theatre (WCT) has cultivated a vibrant local arts community in Kamloops as the region’s renowned professional theatre company. Each year, the organization produces spectacular professional productions ranging from classic musicals to family programming, entertaining and poignant plays, new Canadian and Indigenous work and more.
