Tag Archives: Wizard of Oz

Grand Rapids Ballet School’s Junior Company present ‘Wizard of Oz’

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Recreation, Upcoming Events, ,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

The production of the ‘Wizard of Oz’ will run March 10-12 and 18-19. (Courtesy, Grand Rapids Ballet)

Grand Rapids Ballet School’s (GRBS) Junior Company is ready to fill the Peter Martin Wege Theatre stage with its performance, “Wizard of Oz.” The hour-and-a-half-long ballet is ideal for all Munchkins, young and old.

The ballet, with choreography by Junior Company Artistic Director Attila Mosolygo, follows the story of the original book “The Wonderful Wizard of OZ” written by L. Frank Baum, yet follows the same storyline of the well-known movie, directed by Victor Fleming, throughout the ballet. Follow Dorothy as she travels to the Land of Oz, meets three faithful friends, confronts the Wizard of Oz, and fights off the Wicked Witch of the West.

  

“I am excited to see all of the GRBS Junior Company students showcase their talents as we bring this classic story to the stage,” Mosolygo said. “The students have been working hard the last two and a half months.”

Rehearsals for Wizard of Oz began in December. Grand Rapids Ballet School Junior Company members have been attending class weekly at Grand Rapids Ballet’s Meijer Royce Center for Dance, and in many cases, depending on the role they are cast as, rehearse multiple days per week leading up to the performance. “The production involves more than 50 dancers of the Junior Company. As you can imagine, it can be challenging at times to bring that big of a cast together,” Mosolygo said.

Premiered initially in 2018, Grand Rapids Ballet School Junior Company is excited to bring back this well know the classic tale. Although the props and set design are the same, you may see some differences in the choreography, “As I revisit the ballet, I do tweak each scene and make changes as we go along,” Mosolygo said, “the sets and the costumes were originally created when the premiere happened in 2018. I designed and built the sets myself, based on my interpretation of the story.”

 

GRBS Junior Company is hosting Dorothy & Friends’ Tea Party on Sunday, March 12, at The Rutledge on Ionia. At the events, families will make themed crafts, pose for the photo booth, and meet and greet with characters from the Wizard of Oz; along with having brunch.

 “Wizard of Oz” runs March 10-12 and 18-19, at Peter Martin Wege Theatre. Tickets are $20 online, via phone at 616-454-4771 ext. 110, or in person at GRB’s Box Office. Tickets to Dorothy & Friends’ Tea Party are available for $54 per person on the Grand Rapids Ballet’s website. 

Follow the yellow brick road to Tibbits Opera House

Entertainment, Local Entertainment, , ,
Judy Garland as Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz.” (MGM Studios)

By Adrienne Brown-Reasner
West Michigan Tourist Association

Iconic glittery red shoes, Judy Garland’s famous rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” and the classic story down the yellow brick road will fill Tibbits’ big screen on April 10 at 4 p.m. when the 1939 classic “The Wizard of Oz” is presented as part of the Community-Sponsored Programming.

Starring Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley and Margaret Hamilton, the film favorite is based on the 1900 American novel by L. Frank Baum. Rated PG, this movie is fun for the entire family. After a tornado rips through Kansas, Dorothy and her dog Toto are swept away to the magical and vibrant land of Oz. In order to find their way back home, they must embark on a journey to the Emerald City to see the Wizard of Oz. On their way there, they befriend a Scarecrow who longs for a brain, a Tin Man who desires a heart, and a Cowardly Lion who seeks courage. The group is hopeful that the ‘Great Oz’ will be able to fulfill their wishes. Not far behind them is the Wicked Witch of the West, who is out for revenge after Dorothy’s house fell on and killed her sister, the Wicked Witch of the East.

Sponsored by the Tibbits Opera House Endowment – Children’s Programming Fund, this screening is the fourth installment of Community-Sponsored Programming. For those who have always wanted to see a certain movie on the big screen or have their band play on the historic stage, Tibbits is still offering the opportunity for community members to plan and sponsor their own public performance at a fraction of the normal rental price.

The theatre doors, general admission seating, and concession sales for “The Wizard of Oz” begin at 3:30pm with donations at the door. Due to current restrictions, seating for all events is limited and masks are required upon entering and when moving about the theatre.

For more information or to purchase tickets for upcoming events, visit Tibbits.org, stop in at Tibbits business offices at 93 W. Chicago St., Coldwater, or call 517.278.6029. The historic Tibbits Opera House is located at 14 S. Hanchett St., Coldwater.