Nathan Woods & Nattalie Baxter from the premiere of The Last Oz Story, April 8-9, 2011, John W. Berry Fine and Performing Arts Center, University of Rio Grande
Whisked away by a tornado to the magical Land of Oz, a young Kansas farm girl embarks on a perilous journey to find a mysterious wizard, hoping he can help her get back home.
That was the first Oz story, but there was more to come - much more. Now, jump ahead a century.
In the aftermath of a tornado, a young woman turns up in modern day Kansas, insisting she has just returned from Oz and must find a way to go back if she is to save her friends and, possibly, the kingdom itself. Will anyone believe her? Should they?
Could this really be the last Oz story?
Ashli Cooper, Dion Lloyd Jones & Lucia Colley from
the premiere of The Last Oz Story
The Last Oz Story is a sequel, of sorts, to the first book in L. Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz series. It was conceived by David Meyers as a follow-up to The Last Christmas Carol, his previous collaboration with composer Scott Michal.
As luck would have it, the show was staged while a handful of theatre exchange students from Wales were in residence at the University of Rio Grande and they helped fill critical positions in both the cast and crew.
When Greg Miller came aboard as director of the production, it was moved from the school's black box theatre to the 500-seat John W. Berry Fine and Performing Arts Center.
book & lyrics by David Meyers
and music by Scott Michal
Mason Traylor, a dancer and student at Rio Grande, was called upon to provide the choreography in the show, while Valerie Tanner was the vocal coach.
Greg Miller, Director
Mason Traylor, Choreographer
Scott Michal, Music Director
Terrence Hopkins, Lighting Design
Kenni Horton, Costumes
Benjy Davies, Visual Effects
Ceri Nia Lewis, Assistant Director
Julianne Lewis & Kody Roberts, Stage Manager
Charlie Crabtree, Props Manager
Valerie Tanner, Vocal Coach
Sunny Sundquist, Rehearsal Pianist
Allyson Johnston as "Dorothy" in the premiere production of The Last Oz Story
Ashli Cooper - "Elise McKenna"
Jamil Stepney - "Felix"
Allyson Johnston - "Dorothy"
Lucia Colley - "Emma Stannic"
Dion Lloyd Jones - "Dr. Chaffey"
Laura Thomas - "Nurse Harrow"
Elin Wyn Williams - "Glinda"
Andrea Rohrer - "Peloros"
Nathan Woods - "Tin Woodsman"
Natallie Baxter - "Courageous Lion"
Tyler Phillips - "Scarecrow"
Tyler Phillips as the decidely acrobatic "Scarecrow" in the premiere of The Last Oz Story
Sets: Megan Cantrell, Terrence Hopkins, Kevin Lyle, Scott Michal, Tyler Phillips, Andrea Rohrer, Sunny Sundquist, Jeremiah Wayne
Munchkins: Lilly Colley, Eliza Davies, Illiana Davies, Jaela Foster, Matthew Lawrence, Isabella Scully
Chorus: Megan Cantrell, Kelly Hively, Ceri Nia Lewis, Jim Mokran, Kody Roberts
Glinda's Magic Picture.
Glinda was able to keep tabs on things from a distance via her "Magic Picture" (which must have been sort of like a television). Click on a photo below to see more of The Last Oz Story.
