Directed and choreographed by Joel Ferrell, the cast will be led by Danielle Bowan as Dorothy with David Coffee as Professor Marvel, The Gatekeeper and The Wizard of Oz. The company will also feature Donna English (Aunt Em/Glinda), Laura Jordan (Almira Gulch/Wicked Witch of the West), Joe Moeller (Hickory/Tinman), Lance Roberts (Zeke/Cowardly Lion) and Paul Sabala (Hunk/Scarecrow). Toto will be played by Nigel with Loki serving as a standby.
The ensemble includes Kyle Anderson, Elizabeth Broadhurst, Tyler Brunsman, Richard Costa, Rachel Fairbanks, Zane Gerson, Jessica Jaros, Tim McShea, Stephanie Moskal, Katerina Papacostas, Sam Seferian, Merrill West and Kent Zimmerman.
Local children will also be featured in the production, including Jordyn Barry (11 years old from Peabody), Lila Bolt (11 years old from Montclair, NJ), Angelina Rose Breda (7 years old from Saugus), Maggie Budzyna (12 years old from Newburyport), Elena Carmichael (11 years old from Natick), Gabrielle A. Corsino (14 years old from Burlington), Will Fafard, Jr. (12 years old from Saugus), Giacomo Favazza (14 years old from Gloucester), Ashley Lanzoni (9 years old from Sudbury), Haley Lanzoni (12 years old from Sudbury), Caroline LaPlaca (14 years old from Georgetown), Andrew Scott Murdock (14 years old from Gloucester), Elizabeth Pasquale (11 years old from Salem), Isabella Shee (7 years old from Mansfield), Alana Tow (10 years old from Needham), Mikayla Tow (7 years old from Needham) and Zehava Younger (13 years old from Beverly).
The creative team also includes William Stanley (musical direction), Jeff Modereger (scenic design), Paula Peasley-Ninestein (costume coordinator), Kirk Bookman (lighting design), Leon Rothenberg (sound design), Gerard Kelly (wig and hair design), William Berloni (animal trainer), ZFX, Inc. (flying effects), Kent Zimmerman (associate choreographer), John Godbout (production stage manager) and Binder Casting (casting).
The Wizard of Oz is adapted by Frank Gabrielson from the 1939 MGM film screenplay based on the novel by L. Frank Baum. The show features the music and lyrics of Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg and background music by Herbert Stothart. For tickets and additional information call (978) 232-7200, visit www.nsmt.org, or visit the box office in person at 62 Dunham Rd., Beverly, MA.