Show to open this Thursday night at 7 p.m. at Woodfin Patterson
Everyone is invited to come enjoy a timeless story next weekend when the Brewton Town and Gown Players present The Wizard of Oz at 7 p.m., on Thursday, July 18 through Saturday, July 20, and at 2 p.m., Sunday, July 21 at the Woodfin Patterson Auditorium located on the Brewton campus of Coastal Alabama Community College.
Tickets are available in advance at Brewton City Hall and Herrington’s Florist. They are also available online at: rubyslippers.brownpapertickets.com. Advanced tickets are $12 and will also be available at the door one hour before each performance for $14.
The cast is comprised of more than 60 actors from Brewton, Flomaton, Atmore, and Monroeville.
Artistic Director Stephen Billy guarantees that this is a production local audiences will not want to miss.
“The stage adaptation includes all of the classic musical numbers from the MGM film starring Judy Garland, including ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’, ‘Follow the Yellow Brick Road’, ‘Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead!’ and many other recognizable tunes,” said Billy. “This is a special opportunity for multiple generations to see a show together and possibly introduce this beloved classic to family members or friends for the first time too.”
Along with the classic musical numbers, Billy shared with us that the production requires quite a few intricate special effects.
“When most people think about The Wizard of Oz, the first association is the iconic scene when the Wicked Witch of the West melts,” said Billy. “I’ve been asked by countless people if we are going to melt the witch. The answer is yes, we absolutely will be melting the Wicked Witch. This show is filled with so many incredible special effects that you can only experience with live theatre, including the twister scene. Who knows, if you look closely enough, you might even see a flying monkey or two!”
The cast and crew have been working tirelessly on preparing for the production since late May. Billy explained that a show this size requires many moving parts and would not be possible without the support of the community, both on stage and off.
“This is such an incredibly collaborative process that strengthens and connects our community,” said Billy. “Without the support of generous sponsors and individuals in our community, this project would not be possible. We are also so grateful for the support of Mayor Yank Lovelace, the Brewton City Council and Coastal Alabama Community College.”
