COME FLY WITH US! Yellow brick roads, flying monkeys, talking lions, and magical ruby slippers ... It’s not a dream; it's a place, and you can be there July 6-14!
Once again MTVarts will be on the stage at the Knox County Memorial Theater; we can't wait to showcase all the technical upgrades being completed. ZFX Flying Effects from Louisville, Ky. has been hired to facilitate theatrical flight. Performance rights obtained from Tams-Witmark: A Concord Theatricals Company.
Bruce Jacklin and his artistic team, including Music Director Diane Dingler, choreography by Laura Webster, Kristen Michels, Leslie Bell, and Carrie Hyman, costuming by Susan S.B. Brown, Jessica Smarrella, Ruth Frady, Kerri Mahan and their team, and set by Joe Bell will take a fresh look at the classic tale. Stage Management will be led by Samantha Turner working with lighting designer Katie Vicellio, sound designer Alex Thompson, fly caption Steve Jefferson supported by a stage crew which includes Eli Chung and Jennifer Walters.
Keeping with the nationwide popularity of “Wicked, the Musical,” the film “Oz The Great and Powerful” and numerous steampunk versions on the Syfy channel, the audience is hungry for something "new yet familiar” says Director Jacklin. “With all the traditional characters, film dialogue and the MGM score, we are designing some spectacular visual elements with the costumes, set pieces, choreography and lighting. While presenting something familiar, yet new, we never lose the fact that 'there’s no place like home.'”
- PERFORMANCE TIMES:
Saturday July 6 @ 7:30pm
Sunday July 7 @ 2:00pm
Wednesday July 10 @ 7:30 pm
Thursday July 11 @ 7:30 pm
Friday July 12 @ 7:30pm
Saturday July 13 @ 7:30pm
Sunday July 14 @ 2:00 pm
PROMOTIONAL EVENTS:
Saturday June 22
Yellow Brick Extravaganza Downtown Mount Vernon
- 9am to 11 am @ First-Knox National Bank - Hear songs from the shows, fun activities, refreshments, selfies with the cast, and free gifts for kids. Enter to win tickets to the show and a gift basket from First_Knox.
- 11am to 1 pm @ Dominos - Free pizza, meet the cast, activities by SPI. Enter to win tickets to the show.
- 1:30pm @ The Woodward Opera House - Free showing of the original MGM Wizard of Oz movie, Enter to win tickets to the show and gift cards for The Joint, Dave's Cosmic Subs, and Stein Brewing Company
Many downtown merchants will be participating in a selfie scavenger hunt ... visit the store, snap a selfie, enter to win tickets to the show.
Downtown merchant window contest - cast your vote for the PEOPLE'S CHOICE award.
CAST LIST
Dorothy Gale ~ Hannah Chelle Frye
Zeke / Cowardly Lion ~ Thor Collard
Hickory / Tin Man ~ Aaron Turnbull
Hunk / Scarecrow ~ Mark Mahan
Glinda ~ Colleen Fitzpatrick
Guard of Oz ~ Rodney Cheek
Professor Marvel / Wizard of Oz ~ Ian Fraser Ernsberger
Mrs. Gulch / Wicked Witch of the West ~ Megan Evans
Aunt Em ~ Abigail Tayse
Uncle Henry ~ John Wareham
Mayor Of Munchkin City ~ Carrie Hyman
Muchkin Braggert ~ Joey Ferguson
Munchkin Herald ~ Rebecca Davis
Munchkin Barrister ~ Joselyn Bates
Munchkin Coroner ~ Kate Ernsberger
Munchkin Teacher ~ Kerri Mahan
Munchkin Fathers ~ Madigan Kennedy, Isabella Fontaine
Munchkin Fiddler ~ Emily Hammond
Lollipop Guild ~ Joey Daley, Joey Ferguson, Rogue Griffith
Lullaby League ~ Kiersten Clinedinst, Jillian Snow, Reese Ferenbaugh
Crows / Flying Monkeys ~ Alex Diehl, Kyle Boucher, Samuel Wolfe
Nikko ~ Samuel Wolf
Trees ~ Abigail Tayse, Ella Ackert, Caroline Pletcher
Winkie General - Jay Mahan
Winkies ~ Glen Hissong, Tyler Scowden, Bill Davis, Daniel Barich
Ensemble:
Minda Bates
Fredi Bockover
Gwen Brady
Elizabeth Diehl
Mary Rugola Dye
Emilee Fletcher
Vivian Hawk
Workshop and intensive offer a unique opportunity for hands on theatre education. Together students will embark on an arduous journey to create a live musical theatre event. Along the way their multi-tasking will build confidence, teach life skills, foster collaborative relationships, and educate the imaginiation.
Registration is now closed
-disclaimer-
Sign up will remain open until capacity is reached. Those participants we are able to accept will be notified by May 18.
Interest sign up does not guarantee a spot in the workshop/intensive however once accepted a role is guaranteed in one of the 2 productions. Although unlikely, JR intensive participants may be offered a role in the KIDS production; KIDS workshop participants may be offered a role in JR production. Both show casts will be announced around July 20.
The delicious adventures experienced by Charlie Bucket on his visit to Willy Wonka's mysterious chocolate factory light up the stage in this captivating adaptation of Roald Dahl's fantastical tale. Featuring the enchanting songs from the 1971 film starring Gene Wilder, in addition to a host of fun new songs, Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka KIDS is a scrumdidilyumptious musical guaranteed to delight everyone's sweet tooth.
Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka JR and Willy Wonka KIDS follows enigmatic candy manufacturer Willy Wonka as he stages a contest by hiding golden tickets in five of his scrumptious candy bars. Whomever comes up with these tickets will win a free tour of the Wonka factory, as well as a lifetime supply of candy. Four of the five winning children are insufferable brats, but the fifth is a likeable young lad named Charlie Bucket, who takes the tour in the company of his equally amiable grandfather. The children must learn to follow Mr. Wonka's rules in the factory — or suffer the consequences.
Public Performances:
Friday September 20 @ 7:30 p.m.
Saturday September 21 @ 7:30 p.m.
Sunday September 22 @ 2:00 p.m.
Roald Dahl's timeless story of the world-famous candy man and his quest to find an heir is a golden ticket to adventure. Join us for this delicious adventure presented by seasoned youth performers as a 90 minute full scale musical. Live theatre for all ages.
Public Performances:
Friday September 13 @ 7:30 p.m.
Saturday September 14 @ 2:00 p.m.
KIDS is designed for our youngest patrons in mind and is the perfect introduction to live theatre. Run time is 60 minutes with no intermission.
Production Team Members for both productions:
Susan Brown, Rodney Cheek, Ian & Kate Ernsberger, Ruth Frady, Carrie Hyman, Joe Jancura, Mary Kepple, Bruce Jacklin, Kerri Mahan, Jessica Smarrella, Laura Webster, Kristen Campbell, Sarah Gratz, ... more to come.