Damascus College Performing Arts is proud to present THE WIZ. Many know the story of the wonderful Wizard of Oz, but in this new musical version it's a fantasy for today.
The Wiz hit Broadway in 1975 and ran for 4 years with over 1,600 performances.
While similar in plot to The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz transforms the show into a more fun, funky and modern version. Dorothy, the little girl from Kansas, is blown by a tornado into Munchkinland in the Land of Oz. While there she meets the Scarecrow, the Tinman and the Cowardly Lion on the Yellow Brick Road. She defeats the evil witch and goes to see the powerful Wizard who turns out to be a phoney. However, he is able to convince Dorothy that she can do anything she wants if she just believes in herself. Dorothy also realizes the importance of home and her family. Mysterious, opulent and fanciful, the show is a new dream conjured up by a modern imaginative child with Dorothy's adventures in the Land of Oz set to music in a dazzling, lively mixture of rock, gospel and soul.
At the heart of the show are the remarkable talents of the students of Damascus College. The cast is led by Jemma Toomey as Dorothy, Blaise Jenkin as the Scarecrow, Carla Hughes as the Tin Man and Paul Goad as the Lion. The wonderful supporting cast includes Caitlyn Pearson, Fagyn Gwyther-McCuskey, Dylan Licastro, Melanie Leonard, Thomas Howlett and Dean Bloetz and an ensemble cast of over 40 students from Years 7 to 12 at the College.
The Damascus College production is directed by Andrew Seeary who has been involved in all of the Colleges school productions since its inception. Musically directing this production is Geoff Martin and choral direction and choreography is by Vicki Rowe, all of which are Performing Arts staff at Damascus College.
THE WIZ is an exciting vehicle to promote one of the many great aspects of Damascus College. The history of Performing Arts indicates that the College has been true to its aim of maximizing performance opportunities for students studying Drama and Music. This occurs both within the curriculum and as an extra curricular activity.
In 1999 the College’s first musical Animal Farm drew together the many elements that still successfully operate in this year’s production, a talented amalgam of staff, former students, community members and industry professionals who freely give up their time to make students the best that they can be. The College counts itself lucky to have so many staff with an interest, background and passion for theatre and who recognize its special power to create confidence, discipline and pride within students of all year levels.
Over the years the College has become recognized for the quality of its productions such as Sunrise Sunset, Little Shop of Horrors, Foreigners from Home, Henry, Small Poppies and Cosi. In 2004 and 2006 Ballarat’s historic Her Majesty’s Theatre became the venue for the larger scale productions of Fame and Seussical the Musical.
Performing at the University of Ballarat’s Founders Hall, opening night is Wednesday, August 6th and performs nightly until Saturday August 9th with a 2pm matinee on Saturday the 9th of August.
Tickets can be purchased at Damascus College, at both the Victoria St and Mt Clear campus or by phoning 5337 2222
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