Local actors are performing a play that is a piece of American history in Albert Lea.

“The Wizard of Oz” will begin at 7:30 p.m. today, Saturday, Wednesday, Thursday, next Friday and July 23 at Marion Ross Performing Arts Center. Matinees will start at 2 p.m. Sunday and July 23.

The first performance was Thursday.

Tickets are $18 for adults and $10 for students and may be purchased by calling 1-877-730-3144, online at actonbroadway.com, at the box office that is open from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursdays and at the Albert Lea Convention & Visitors Bureau. Box office hours during show weeks are 3:30 to 6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. on performance nights and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday evenings.

Director Steven Kinney said the play is a classic story that is put together well.

“This is a great bunch of people that we got here,” Kinney said.

The musical consists of a journey from Kansas to the Land of Oz, where Dorothy, played by Kendall Ward; Toto, played by Henry the dog; Scarecrow, played by Luke Zacharius; Tin Man, played by Patrick Carew; and the Cowardly Lion, played by Jason Howland; follow the yellow brick road to The Emerald City to meet the Wizard.

The play is based on the 1939 motion picture that featured Minnesota native Judy Garland along with the songs “Over the Rainbow,” “If I only Had a Brain” and “The Merry Old Land of Oz.”

Musical direction for the play is provided by Barb Lang.

Kinney said the performers have a wide range in ages, noting that though he has seen it before, it is always fun to see new actors who want to have fun and get their feet wet.

He said the more fun actors have, the harder they work, which leads to a better play, noting that play participants are hopeful and confident attendees will be pleased with the play.

 

Cast and crew

Dorothy Gale – Kendall Ward

Aunt Em/Glinda – Sue Jorgensen

Uncle Henry/Emerald City Guard – Lynn Berven

Zeke/Cowardly Lion – Jason Howland

Hickory/Tin Man – Patrick Carew

Hunk/Scarecrow – Luke Zacharius

Miss Almira Gulch/Wicked Witch of the West – Teresa Wilson

Professor Chester Marvel/The Wizard of Oz – Brian Mattson

 

Munchkins

Mayor – Gavin Hanke

Coroner – Joshua Brooks

Barrister – Addison Dirkes

City Fathers – Erin Boorsma, Ali Hess

Lollipop Guild – Paige Becker, Shelley Bush, Bailey Wood

Braggart – Emma Prihoda

School Teachers – Ava Bremer, Jenna Schmidt

Lullaby League – Brooke Hanson, Joey Maiden, Nevaeh Wacholz

Citizens of Munchkinland – Alecia Abrego, Elisa Brink, Ava Cunningham, Ashley Fethke, Maya Fuller, Mya Hanke, Isabel Hanson, Dakotah Heginger, Zoe Heydt, Maddie Linahon, Carlie Loock, Caydence McVicker, Faith Phillips, Markey Samp

Crows – Rebecca Griffin, Jacob Klecker, Jeremy Sekora

Apple Trees – Olivia Goodmanson, Katie Komoszewski, Carley Talamantes

Poppies – Alecia Abrego, Elisa Brink, Maya Fuller, Mya Hanke, Isabel Hanson, Zoe Heydt, Carlie Loock, Caydence McVicker, Faith Phillips, Markey Samp

Snowflakes – Erin Boorsma, Ava Bremer, Ava Cunningham, Addison Dirkes, Ashley Fethke, Brooke Hanson, Dakotah Heginger, Ali Hess, Maddie Linahon, Emma Prihoda, Jenna Schmidt

Ozians – Linda Altermatt, Lorna Beaver, Joshua Brooks, Isabel Brown, Kayla Christenson, Christy Compton, Madison Doyle, Charley Fleek, Julissa Gilbertson, Olivia Goodmanson, Rebecca Griffin, Gavin Hanke, Bev Loos, Katie Komoszewski, Jessica Maiden, Schafer Overgaard, Gisele Schreider, Cheyenne Severtson, Katherine Sime, Carley Talamantes, Nevaeh Wacholz

Winkies – Jeremy Sekora (Winkie General), Julissa Gilbertson, Rebecca Griffin, Jacob Klecker, Cheyenne Severtson

Nikko (Commander of the Monkeys) – Schafer Overgaard

Monkeys – Lorna Beaver, Isabel Brown, Charley Fleek, Nevaeh Wacholz

Jitterbugs – Olivia Goodmanson, Rebecca Griffin, Katie Komoszewski, Carley Talamantes

Featured Dancers – Maddie Phillips, Morgan Phillips

 

Production staff

Director — Steven Kinney

Music Director — Barb Lang

Set Designer/Technical Director — Cameron Davis

Lighting Designer — Dietrich Poppen

Choreographer — Joyce Matthies

Production Manager — Jason Howland

Stage Manager — Karen Szymanowski

Costumes — Rosalie Truax assisted by Patty Christopherson, Laura Kuisle, Neil Lang, Joyce Matthies, Linda Opstad, Teresa Wilson, Parents

Props and Set Dressing — Teresa Wilson

Makeup — Rory Mattson assisted by Dianna Becker, Amber Busall, Erin Hanson, Glen Parsons, Madeline Phillips, Morgan Phillips, Jenny Rhiner, Veronica Silva

Hair — Glen Parsons assisted by Stephanie Erdman, Mary Mickelson, Joey Rahn, Parents

Lights — Sue Runden

Sound and Sound Effects — Neil Lang, John Szymanowski

Technical Assistants — Kris Bartley, Alex Dietrich Johnson, Tricia McEwan, Susan Price

Videography — Dan Borland, Jason Howland

Photography — Kris Bartley, Dan Borland, Jason Howland

Orchestra: Deb Cooper (keyboard, violin); Vern Frydenlund (trumpet, brass); Mike Hanson (clarinet, bass clarinet, alto sax); Barb Lang (keyboard); Todd Peterson (percussion)

Girls’ Chorus — Nell Brown, Sheri Deal, Pat Frydenlund, Nancy Lahs, Bev Loos, Linda Mixon, Sharon Overgaard, Sharon Waltz

Box Office Manager — Sue Tripp

Box Office Volunteers — Marlys Broberg, Jane Buege, Shirley Enderson, June Etienne, Cindy Fjermestad, Carol Frydenlund, Mary Ellen Johnson, Sandi Nesse, Karen Olsen, Bonnie Olson,  Mary L. Peterson, Arline Richter, Joann Schwartz, Sue Tripp,  Donna Widenhoefer, Jan Zehnder