This community spotlight blog post is by Kate Scally Howell, who will be playing Glinda in Saguaro City Music Theatre's (SCMT) The Wizard of Oz (running December 20 through January 5). Before you continue reading, we've got some great news! The first four people to email boxoffice@saguarocity.org (using the subject header: Library Blog Entry) will each receive one family four-pack of tickets to see the show this holiday season.
Do you remember the first time you watched the movie The Wizard of Oz? If you close your eyes, I bet you can see that black and white Kansas background suddenly turn into the technicolor land of Oz, full of bright pinks, yellows and greens. The tight laced Mrs. Gulch, flying through the sky on her bicycle, the wind whipping around her as she transforms into the wild Wicked Witch of the West. Judy Garland skipping down that yellow brick road, singing “We’re off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz.” It’s no wonder that The Library of Congress has declared the original book by L. Frank Baum to be "America's greatest and best-loved homegrown fairytale.”
Because the 1939 movie was such a phenomenal success, it’s easy to forget about the charming Oz books series written by L. Frank Baum. I grew up watching musicals, so I was very familiar with the movie The Wizard of Oz, but I was also the child of two English professors. So you can bet I read the whole Oz books series—from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (published in 1900), all the way to Glinda of Oz (which was published posthumously in 1920). There are fourteen books total in the Oz series, and they make for fun, family bedtime reads.
From December 20 through January 5, Saguaro City Music Theatre is mounting a production of the original musical play The Wizard of Oz at the Berger Performing Arts Center. Since the movie was based on this play, most of the music is familiar to those of us who enjoyed the movie as children. I am thrilled to be playing Glinda in this production, and it’s not just because I’m excited to see how sparkly and poofy my dress will be. The cast is phenomenal, and Saguaro City’s ability to incorporate young performers of all abilities and backgrounds is truly impressive. (Get ready for the cutest Munchkins you’ve ever seen!) The show’s director, Drew Humphrey, explained why Saguaro City chose this show to play over the holiday season: "It evokes a sense of nostalgia–it’s about a young girl yearning to return home.” And during this holiday season, isn’t that what we all want? After all, "there’s no place like home."
For more information, please visit https://www.saguarocity.org/tickets.
