LINCOLN UNIVERSITY — Avon Grove Community Theater (ACT) will present The Wizard of Oz for two weekends at the Ware Center on the campus of Lincoln University, 1570 Old Baltimore Pike, Lincoln University, PA
The performance schedule is as follows: Friday, July 18 @ 7:00 p.m., Sunday, July 20 @ 2:00 p.m., Thursday, July 24 @ 7:00 p.m., Friday, July 25 @ 7:00 p.m., Saturday, July 26 @ 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Sunday, July 27 @ 2:00 p.m.
The Wizard of Oz is a heartwarming tale of magic and fantasy, good and evil, and family and friendship. Based on L. Frank Baum’s novel and the 1939 film, this musical adaption of The Wizard of Oz was originally produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company in London in 1987 with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg. The score is full of tunes from the timeless film such as “We’re Off To See the Wizard”, If I Only Had A Brain”, “The Merry Old Land of Oz”, and – of course – “Over The Rainbow”.
The Avon Grove Community Theater revival features a cast of more than 40 local performers led alternately by Leah Kohl (Newark, DE) and Bailey Wilson (Parkesburg) as Dorothy, the charming young girl from Kansas. The supporting cast includes Susan Schwaneflugel as Aunt Em (Lincoln University), Wes Mirello as Uncle Henry (Lincoln University), Maria Leonetti as Glinda the Good Witch (Philadelphia), Michelle Nardi (Landenberg) and Gina Fritz (Oxford) double-casted as the Wicked Witch, Antonio Cosentino (Oxford) as the Tin Man, Peter Hayes (Unionville) as the Scarecrow, Jacob Billings (Nottingham) as the Cowardly Lion, Chris Murray (Oxford) as Professor Marvel/The Wizard and Danny Drennan (Landenberg) as Oz Guard and Mayor.
ACT’s production of The Wizard of Oz is directed by Daniel Schmitt, a veteran performer, director and devoted fan of the Wizard of Oz (Newark, DE) with choral director Kyle Sheuing (Kennett Square), a teacher at Kennett Middle School who have just completed their own production of The Wizard of Oz . This production also features a live orchestra directed by recording artist and Moravian College music professor, Dr. Debra Torok. (http://home.moravian.edu/public/music/faculty/torok.htm).
Tickets for reserved seating can be purchased at www.actheater.org. All performances are expected to sell out so purchase your tickets early. Tickets are $18/adult, $15/students and seniors 62+. Prices are the same online as at the door.
The Avon Grove Community Theater celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Founded in 2004, ACT is a non-profit community theater organization based in Southern Chester County, PA.
