At Geauga Lyric Theater, Notre Dame 4th grader brought her parents along to auditions for The Wizard of Oz. Elizabeth Morris is a munchkin, and also, to her delight, a flying monkey. Dad Rod Morris is a Winkie. “I never knew what a ‘Winkie’ was!” Not too old to learn something new, he discovered that a ‘Winkie’ is one of the Wicked Witch’s henchmen. “This is my first production at Geauga, although since moving here from New York six years ago, I have seen almost every production they have put on. The Chardon community is very fortunate to have a community theatre like GLTG.”
It was mom Christine that was the impetus for the whole family being involved. “My husband and I met in a high school musical when we were cast opposite each other. We have been married for 31 years. We enjoyed doing theatre together when we were younger and wanted to experience it again with our daughter Elizabeth. She brought us back to the theatre after over 25 years. It has always been on my “bucket list” to do a show where the three of us could be in a production together.”
There are many family groups involved in the season finale musical – both onstage and off, as moms serve as ‘Munchkin Wranglers,’ wives help with costumes, and dads embarrass their children onstage, as is only proper.
Come enjoy The Geauga Lyric’s production of The Wizard of Oz, directed by J.E. Ballantyne! The Wizard of Oz, sponsored by GEM Electric, by L. Frank Baum with music and lyrics by Harold Arlen & E.Y. Harburg, background music by Herbert Stothart, based on the classical motion picture owned by Turner Entertainment Co. and distributed by Warner Bros., will run May 2 – May 18.
The historic Geauga Theater is located on beautiful Chardon Square at 101 Water Street, Chardon, Ohio. Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for students and seniors, with a special child rate for 12 and under of $10. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the website, or call the Box Office at 440-286-2255. Box Office hours are Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 4 pm to 7 pm and Saturday 1 pm to 5 pm. Special group ticket rates are available through the Box Office.
Photo detail: Allison Lehr as Dorothy and John Kolar as the Scarecrow
