Wizard of Oz at Woodminster

Woodminster Summer Musicals
Summer 2007 - 41st consecutive season of musical theater under the stars in Oakland’s beautiful Joaquin Miller Park
Press contact: Kathy Kahn, woodminsterpr@yahoo.com, 510-418-8523
Theater contact: Harriet Schlader, harriet@woodminster.com, 510-531-9597
For virtual press room, including high resolution photographs, visit http://www.woodminster.com/Webpages/news.html

August 2007 -- CALENDAR INFORMATION
WHAT: "The Wizard of Oz," based on the 1939 film, originally adapted by the Royal Shakespeare Company.
PERFORMED BY: Woodminster Summer Musicals by Producers Associates, Inc.
WHERE: Woodminster Amphitheater in Joaquin Miller Park, 3300 Joaquin Miller Road, Oakland
WHEN: August 10-19, 2007
PERFORMANCES: August 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19 - 8 p.m.
TICKETS: 510-531-9597 or www.woodminster.com, $23-$36 ($2 discount for children/seniors)
By L. Frank Baum, with Music and Lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg
Background Music by Herbert Stohart
Presented by arrangement with Tams-Witmark Music Library, Inc.

PRESS RELEASE - For Immediate Release

Woodminster Summer Musicals Continues
41st Season August 10 with “The Wizard of Oz”
Magical Land of Oz is Re-created in Joaquin Miller Park’s
Historic Woodminster Amphitheater

July 23, 2007 - Oakland, CA - Producers Associates, Inc. will continue the 2007 season of the Woodminster Summer Musicals with "The Wizard of Oz," playing August 10-19. L. Frank Baum's classic story of a Kansas farm girl transported by a tornado to a magical land contains some of the most recognizable characters in our culture. People all over the world recognize the Scarecrow, Tin Woodsman, and the Cowardly Lion, and know that to reach the Emerald City, you must follow the Yellow Brick Road. The story has been told on Broadway in several versions including “The Wiz” in 1975 and “Wicked,” in 2004 (both multi Tony winners.) The version being produced by Woodminster in 2007 is based on perhaps the most famous interpretation of this story, the 1939 film version starring Judy Garland.

Says director Joel Schlader, “’The Wizard of Oz’ continues the Woodminster tradition of offering shows that are a magical introduction to theater for children. We love it when people see their very first live theater at Woodminster.” Producers Associates is committed to bringing local young people into the theatre, and most shows are appropriate for all ages. For tickets booked in advance, there is a discount for children and seniors. For performance night purchase, the organization has for the last 15 years offered a Kids Come Free program, where a child 16 or younger can attend free if accompanied by a paying adult. By doing this, Producers Associates hopes to encourage a love of live theatre in the area’s children and make it easier for Oakland families on a limited budget to attend together.

Woodminster shows are performed by a combination of professional (Actors Equity Association) actors and talented local non-professionals. "The Wizard of Oz" features 15-year-old aspiring actress Rachel Wagner of Castro Valley in the leading role of Dorothy. Other leading roles are played by experienced professionals: Greg Carlson as the Cowardly Lion, Stu Klitzner as the Wizard, Robert Moorhead as the Tin Man, Stephanie Rhoads as Glinda, and John Tichenor as the Scarecrow. The adult ensemble is split between AEA actors and non-professionals. The Munchkins are played by 17 local children from 10 Bay Area cities.

"The Wizard of Oz" is directed by Joel Schlader, with choreography by Amy Moorhead, musical direction by Brandon Adams, and vocal direction by Trente Morant. The orchestra, composed of members of American Federation of Musicians, Local 6, will be conducted by Brandon Adams.

After "The Wizard of Oz" August 10-19, Woodminster's 41st season will continue with “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat” September 7-16.

Producers Associates, Inc. was founded in 1967 by James and Harriet Schlader to provide affordable live summer family entertainment in the East Bay, and to foster a love of live theatre. For the last 41 years, the organization, in partnership with the Oakland Park and Rec Department, has been producing summer musicals at Woodminster Amphitheater. Today it sells more tickets per year than any other resident performing arts group in the city, and also runs a “Kids Come Free” program that gave away 2700 tickets to children and teens in 2006. For more information, visit http://www.woodminster.com.

Background information here.



PRESS RELEASE: Woodminster Summer Musicals Summer 2007 - 41st consecutive season of musical theater under the stars in Oakland’s beautiful Joaquin Miller Park Press contact: Kathy Kahn, woodminsterpr@yahoo.com, 510-418-8523 Theater contact: Harriet Schlader, harriet@woodminster.com, 510-531-9597 For virtual press room, including high resolution photographs, visit http://www.woodminster.com/Webpages/news.html August 2007 -- CALENDAR INFORMATION WHAT: "The Wizard of Oz," based on the 1939 film, originally adapted by the Royal Shakespeare Company. PERFORMED BY: Woodminster Summer Musicals by Producers Associates, Inc. WHERE: Woodminster Amphitheater in Joaquin Miller Park, 3300 Joaquin Miller Road, Oakland WHEN: August 10-19, 2007 PERFORMANCES: August 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19 - 8 p.m. TICKETS: 510-531-9597 or www.woodminster.com, $23-$36 ($2 discount for children/seniors) By L. Frank Baum, with Music and Lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg Background Music by Herbert Stohart Presented by arrangement with Tams-Witmark Music Library, Inc. PRESS RELEASE - For Immediate Release Woodminster Summer Musicals Continues 41st Season August 10 with “The Wizard of Oz” Magical Land of Oz is Re-created in Joaquin Miller Park’s *Historic Woodminster Amphitheater* July 23, 2007 - Oakland, CA - Producers Associates, Inc. will continue the 2007 season of the Woodminster Summer Musicals with "The Wizard of Oz," playing August 10-19. L. Frank Baum's classic story of a Kansas farm girl transported by a tornado to a magical land contains some of the most recognizable characters in our culture. People all over the world recognize the Scarecrow, Tin Woodsman, and the Cowardly Lion, and know that to reach the Emerald City, you must follow the Yellow Brick Road. The story has been told on Broadway in several versions including “The Wiz” in 1975 and “Wicked,” in 2004 (both multi Tony winners.) The version being produced by Woodminster in 2007 is based on perhaps the most famous interpretation of this story, the 1939 film version starring Judy Garland. Says director Joel Schlader, “’The Wizard of Oz’ continues the Woodminster tradition of offering shows that are a magical introduction to theater for children. We love it when people see their very first live theater at Woodminster.” Producers Associates is committed to bringing local young people into the theatre, and most shows are appropriate for all ages. For tickets booked in advance, there is a discount for children and seniors. For performance night purchase, the organization has for the last 15 years offered a Kids Come Free program, where a child 16 or younger can attend free if accompanied by a paying adult. By doing this, Producers Associates hopes to encourage a love of live theatre in the area’s children and make it easier for Oakland families on a limited budget to attend together. Woodminster shows are performed by a combination of professional (Actors Equity Association) actors and talented local non-professionals. "The Wizard of Oz" features 15-year-old aspiring actress Rachel Wagner of Castro Valley in the leading role of Dorothy. Other leading roles are played by experienced professionals: Greg Carlson as the Cowardly Lion, Stu Klitzner as the Wizard, Robert Moorhead as the Tin Man, Stephanie Rhoads as Glinda, and John Tichenor as the Scarecrow. The adult ensemble is split between AEA actors and non-professionals. The Munchkins are played by 17 local children from 10 Bay Area cities. "The Wizard of Oz" is directed by Joel Schlader, with choreography by Amy Moorhead, musical direction by Brandon Adams, and vocal direction by Trente Morant. The orchestra, composed of members of American Federation of Musicians, Local 6, will be conducted by Brandon Adams. After "The Wizard of Oz" August 10-19, Woodminster's 41st season will continue with “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat” September 7-16. Producers Associates, Inc. was founded in 1967 by James and Harriet Schlader to provide affordable live summer family entertainment in the East Bay, and to foster a love of live theatre. For the last 41 years, the organization, in partnership with the Oakland Park and Rec Department, has been producing summer musicals at Woodminster Amphitheater. Today it sells more tickets per year than any other resident performing arts group in the city, and also runs a “Kids Come Free” program that gave away 2700 tickets to children and teens in 2006. For more information, visit http://www.woodminster.com. Background information here.	Click on photo to retrieve a high-resolution photo for print. (For even higher resolution, send an email request to the publicist.) See publicity photos here. See candid photos from a Munchkin rehearsal here. Rachel Wagner, a Castro Valley 15-year-old, plays the leading role of Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz” which continues the 41st season of the Woodminster Summer Musicals. The show runs August 10-19 at Woodminster Amphitheater in Oakland’s Joaquin Miller Park. Following the Yellow Brick Road are (L to R) Greg Carlson* as the Cowardly Lion, Robert Moorhead* as the Tin Man, Rachel Wagner as Dorothy, and John Tichenor* as the Scarecrow. “The Wizard of Oz” runs August 10-19 at Woodminster Amphitheater in Oakland’s Joaquin Miller Park.
© 2003-2007 Producers Associates Inc. Woodminster Amphitheater, Joaquin Miller Park 3300 Joaquin Miller Road Oakland, CA 94602 510-531-9597 or 510-531-0671 Fax 510-339-0727 For information about the season or tickets, harriet@woodminster.com. For questions about this website or press information, woodminsterpr@yahoo.com.