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The Wizard of Oz by Starlight Musical Theatre 
Thanks to our historic Starlight Musical Theatre in Balboa Park, you don't have to wait for a cyclone to take you to that magical land located somewhere over the rainbow. They have brought the Land of Oz right to us, with all of the dazzling special effects, spectacular scenery, marvelous costumes, and remarkable characters that make Oz seem even more real than Kansas.
We see the wonders of Oz through the eyes of Dorothy Gale, a young Kansan girl who runs away to protect her dog Toto from the wicked witches of this world. Starlight audiences are introduced to a fantastic new talent, Candice Nicole, as Dorothy. A soloist for the California Symphony for the past three years in addition to numerous other performances and starring roles, 16-year-old Candice seems well on her way down the yellow brick road to a successful career in the arts where she dreams of ending up on Broadway. Here she sings, dances, and acts like she's already been there. Dorothy's loyal friends include the brainless but clever Scarecrow (Wayne Tibbetts), the heartless but sensitive Tinman (Frank F. Remiatte), and the courage-less but brave Lion (Michael Vodde). And Toto, too (performed by Sophie). As anyone who saw Wayne Tibbetts as the sadistic dentist in Starlight's Little Shop of Horrors would know, Wayne is a terrific comedian. Tinman Frank Remiatte has a smooth, gentle voice for the If I Only Had a Heart number. And Michael Vodde is simply a show-stealer with his classic, hysterical portrayal of the Cowardly Lion. Not to forget Sophie as Toto, who waited so anxiously for her cues, danced so well (tucked under Dorothy's arm), and tried so hard to keep still while action was stopped for passing planes. Erin Cronican is Glinda, the beautiful Good Witch of the North (because everyone knows that only bad witches are ugly). And if you weren't sure that she was good from her beauty and her pink dress and the big pink bubble she floats around in (as opposed to flying on a nasty old broomstick), Erin's voice is laced with such sugary sweetness and elegance, whether she's admitting to being "a little muddled" or singing "you're out of the woods, you're out of the dark, you're out of the night," there can be no doubt as to her being chock full of gooey-gumdrop goodness. Which is all in direct opposition to the anti-Glinda, the Wicked Witch of the West played by Lana Hartwell. She has a mean, wicked voice, dresses in a sinister black robe and pointed hat, has a not-so-beautiful dark green complexion, and moves about using a nasty old broomstick rather than a big pink bubble. Lana's brilliantly villainous voice and cackling laughter made for the absolutely perfect archetype of the Wicked Witch. And there were several other memorable performances. Mark Petrich, who was Professor Marvel and the Wizard of Oz, was perhaps best as the obnoxious, nasally Guard of Emerald City. Joseph Minnich, who was Smee in last year's Peter Pan and the winner of several Aubrey Awards for his Youth Summerstock roles, is the grunting/flying monkey commander Nikko. He is also hilarious as the absent-minded Ozian who accidentally lets Oz's hot air balloon fly away before Dorothy can get in. Oops! Then there are the excellent ensemble players of Munchkins, Ozians, Crows, dancing Jitterbugs, marching Winkies, and discourteous Apple Trees. A couple of the standouts included Danny McCarthy as the Munchkin Mayor and Tiffany Scarritt-Silviera as the Munchkin Barrister with the amusing Chipmunks-like voice. The dancing crows were a great touch. As was the scenery and lighting, especially in the haunted forest and inside the Witch's castle. Very spooky. The only knock was the reflected face of the great and terrible Oz. His image was scarcely visible against the screen, which would hardly be intimidating -- even to a cowardly lion. And the  face was placed so low to the ground that the bottom half of it was covered by the actors standing in front of it. Besides that, Eric Lotze's lighting effects and J. Branson's stage sets were sensational, as were Kathy Auckland's costumes, especially in regards to the splashy Munchkin outfits and the slinky Apple Trees.
All-in-all, a fantastic production worthy of L. Frank Baum's classic book -- perhaps the most beloved story in American youth literature. If you have any doubts, you need look no further than the stage several minutes after the show was over. Scores of children and adults alike flooded the actors after the show so that they could meet the magical stars, take photos with them, and get their autographs in the programs that they are sure to keep for as long as they are young at heart. Rob Hopper San Diego Playbill ~ Cast ~
Dorothy Gale: Candice Nicole Toto: Sophie Aunt Em: Susan Stuber Uncle Henry: Arne Christiansen Hickory/Tinman: Frank Remiatte Hunk/Scarecrow: Wayne Tibbetts Zeke/Lion: Michael Vodde Miss Almira Gultch/Wicked Witch: Lana Hartwell Prof. Marvel/Guard/Wizard of Oz: Mark Petrich Glinda, the Good Witch: Erin Cronican Munchkins: Nicholas Felizado Zev Lerner Christopher Lange Catie Marron Shannon Patrick Ashley Jankiewicz Charlotte Wen Joy Newbegin Emily Lohorn Renee Mink Morgan Hollingsworth Ari Lerner Kelly McCarthy Milana Tucker Bailey Gordon Munchkin Mayor: Danny McCarthy Munchkin Barrister: Tiffany Scarritt-Silviera Munchkin Coroner: Adam Carver Crows: Ilene Brown Heide Sugawa Joyelle Cabato Laura Montes Trees: Alexandra Stathoulis Kym Cunningham Lindsay Sablan Nikko (Commander of the Monkeys): Joseph Minnich Ozians: Philip Golden Joseph Minnich Sam Cavanaugh Ilene Brown Heide Sugawa Joyelle Cabato Laura Montes Jeremy McQueen Trevor Hollingsworth Chris Selensky Justin Peck Annette Desrosiers Mandy Gill Adina Di Fede Lindsay Sablan Alexandra Stathoulis Kym Cunningham Mishelle Apalategui Kamrie Littlefield Betsy Effron Elise Kerr Braden McKinley Justin Martin Michelle Millum Winkie General: Philip Golden Winkies: Jeremy McQueen Trevor Hollingsworth Justin Martin Sam Cavanaugh Chris Selensky Justin Peck Braden McKinley Ghosts: Betsy Effron Braden McKinley Justin Martin Elise Kerr Justin Peck Lead Jitterbug: Susan Stuber Jitterbugs: Sam Cavanaugh Ilene Brown Heide Sugawa Joyelle Cabato Laura Montes Trevor Hollingsworth Annette Desrosiers Philip Golden Alexandra Stathoulis Jeremy McQueen Adina Di Fede Lindsay Sablan Flying Monkeys: Joseph Minnich Adam Carver Chris Selensky Charlotte Wen Nicholas Felizado Catie Marron Joy Newbegin Danny McCarthy Director: Dee Ann Johnston Musical Director/Conductor: Parmer Fuller Costume Designer: Kathy Auckland Lighting Designer: Eric Lotze Sound Designer: Steve Stopper Set Designer: J. Branson Properties Designer: Tommy Mittlestadt |