Perryville venue to host Cape company's version of 'Wizard of Oz'

It’s purely coincidental, but an adaptation of “The Wizard of Oz” will be presented by the On Cue Performing Art Studio this weekend at the Perry Park Center in Perryville, Missouri.

Less than three weeks after a tornado tore through the northern outskirts of Perryville, Dorothy and friends will take to the stage as part of production by the Cape Girardeau-based studio.

Auditions for the 48-member cast, ranging from age 5 to adults, began in January for the three-day performance, which opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

“It’s based on the classic story of ‘Wizard of Oz’ that everybody knows, but we made some little changes to make it kind of different and interesting,” LaKrisha Moore of On Cue Performing Arts Studio said.

The timeline of the 1930s holds true, but the tornado whisks Dorothy, played by 12-year-old Olivia Walker, from Kansas to a steampunk version of the Land of Oz.

The setting is a quirky, industrial and Victorian one in which Toto, originally portrayed by a Chihuahua-pug mix named Charlie, is swapped out for a robotic dog while in Oz. Charlie reappears when Dorothy happily returns to Kansas.

The production includes about 14 songs, several of which have been added to the original, and the script is a conglomerated adaptation from the movie, book and other versions.

“We added lines and characters and things to make it our own,” Moore said.

The basic storyline and main characters — Lion (Cody Griggs, 14 years old), Tin Man (Cameron Tyler, 17), Scarecrow (Noah Mejean, 17), Glenda (Victoria Collom, 14), Wicked Witch of the West (Libby Cates, 16) and Oz (Cole Windler, an adult) — remain in place.

“The witch has a whole song that she does,” Moore said, referring to “Red Shoe Blues,” that showcases the voice of Cates. Moore said the song is from the newest version of the Broadway play.

Projected animation is used to augment the set pieces, and it’s such that characters can interact with it.

The show, which lasts for just under two hours, also will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets cost $15 (children 3 and younger are free) and may be purchased at the door, online at www.oncueperformingartsstudio.com or by calling (573) 475-0751.

jbreer@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3629

Pertinent address:

800 City Park Lane, Perryville, Mo.