The Boy From Oz helmer, Philip William McKinley, stages the production for Atlanta audiences, which runs through Aug. 11. Portraying L. Frank Baum's beloved characters for the Atlanta production are Kate Manning (Dorothy), Jane Blass (Wicked Witch/Miss Gulch), David Titus (Lion), Jaymes Hodges (Tinman), Eric Imhoff (Scarecrow), Suzanne Ishee (Glinda) and Gary Neal Johnson (Wizard).

Fifty-five local Atlanta children complete the cast as munchkins, monkeys, jitterbugs and Oz residents.

McKinley is known to Broadway audiences for his direction of The Boy from Oz, starring Tony Award winner Hugh Jackman. McKinley's other credits include Thwak, Zombie Prom and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS' 8th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition.

Following The Wizard of Oz, Atlanta's Theater of the Stars will present West Side Story Aug. 21-26, featuring Broadway's Natascia Diaz.

Tickets for The Wizard of Oz are available by calling (404) 817-8700, by logging on to www.ticketmaster.com. For more information visit www.theaterofthestars.com.