ASHTABULA - - Straw Hat Theatre at the Ashtabula Arts Center will hold final performances of the musical family favorite, "The Wizard of Oz" today and Saturday at 8 p.m.
It's the story of Dorothy and her whimsical friends who skip along the yellow brick road to the Emerald City. Dorothy hopes the wizard will help her find her way back to Kansas. All of her pals, the scarecrow, tin
man and cowardly lion have hopes of their own. But when they finally meet the great and wonderful wizard, he sends them on another journey - - a dangerous path that leads them right into the castle of the wicked witch.
The production is based on the story by L. Frank Baum, with music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg. Background music is by Herbert Stothart; dance and vocal arrangements by Peter Howard; orchestration by Larry Wilcox.
The show was adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company and is based upon the classical motion picture owned by Turner Entertainment Co. and distributed in all media by Warner Bros.
Tunes include "We're Off to See the Wizard," "If I Only Had a Brain" and "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead."
The second Straw Hat production of the season, "The Fantasticks," opens June 29. Written by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt and directed by Douglas Eric Anderson, the show will play on June 29, 30, July
1, 5, 6, 7, 8. All Straw Hat shows begin at 8:00 p.m.
The longest running musical in the world, "The Fantasticks" is a classic coming of age story in which two meddling fathers scheme to bring their children together. It features the songs "Try to Remember" and "Soon It's Gonna Rain."
Tickets can be purchased by calling the center at (440) 964-3396. Tickets can also be purchased at the door if seating remains available. Patron seating $12, adults $10, seniors $9 and students/children $8.
Star Beacon Print Edition: 6/22/2007
