Everybody has seen the movie, but nobody has been to the stage show.

    The Wizard of Oz is the musical that every theatergoer knows but has never seen in person. Why, the first production wasn’t staged till late in the 1980’s, even though the movie starring Judy Garland and Ray Bolger was made in 1939.

    Producing such a spectacle on stage simply isn’t an option for most theater companies; after all, how do you create a floating wizard’s head on stage, or duplicate a Kansas tornado?

    Community Arts Theater Society (CATS) changes all that during a 13 show run at the Performing Arts Center beginning June 26. All the great songs from the movie based on the timeless L. Frank Baum classic are here—plus one the film didn't include—the cast is strong and the special effects are, well, spectacular, as the Wicked Witch melts right before your eyes and the Tin Man’s hat blows off steam.

    Thanks to the PAC’s revolving stage, which CATS utilizes to the fullest, audiences are transported from Kansas to Oz and back again, right down the Yellow Brick Road in Dorothy’s ruby red slippers. The fairy tale story includes a breathtaking mask of Oz that comes alive with dramatic flair, and though there’s no flaming broom or fire around the Wizard, allow your imagination to fill in the rest.

    “This is the most expensive show we’ve ever done,” says director Karen “Sarge” Rachels. That’s saying a lot, since in the past award-winning CATS sets have included working carousel. “To translate the iconic moments and characters from the movie to the stage is a challenge for any theater company. That’s why most people haven’t seen a physical production of Wizard.”

    During the tornado scene the house rocks and shakes and spins, courtesy of the revolving stage. More Broadway-quality comes to life when the Wicked Witch, superbly played by Elena Peavy, meets her demise and “melts” on stage. “That’s worth the price of the very low admission in itself,” Rachels promises.

    Of course, with all the great music and memorable characters, CATS could stage The Wizard of Oz in choral form and no one would care. The Oscar-winning musical score features all the great tunes folks have memorized since childhood: “Follow the Yellow Brick Road,” “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead,” “If I Only Had a Brain/ A Heart/ The Nerve,” “The Merry Old Land of Oz,” and naturally “Over the Rainbow.” Interestingly the latter song was very nearly cut from the movie.

    The CATS production also includes a production number that was deleted from the film, “The Jitterbug.” It features the four main characters in a lavish six minute dance choreographed by Cathy Winch of Bear Valley Dance Studio. Watching the Tin Man, played by Steve Combs, shake as he rattles and rolls is also worth the low admission price!

    As is seeing his hat puff and smoke, courtesy of a mini fog machine. Combs also gets what’s arguably the show’s hardest task: to change from Tin Man to farmhand in just a couple minutes at the show’s end, as Dorothy wakes from her dream, the stage revolves back to Kansas, and he removes tin suit and silver makeup.

    In what seems to be a CATS tradition, Rachels double cast the part of Dorothy, with Amber Carpenter and Tori Waner sharing the role. Both are talented and seasoned CATS veterans by now despite their youthful ages, having literally grown up on the stage, and both had prominent roles in the spring production of Junior Musical/Senior Class Reunion.

    Ty Warren and Jim Weyant, who were double cast as Daddy Warbucks in Annie two years ago, appear as the Cowardly Lion and the Wizard, respectively. Joe Sellarole is the Scarecrow and he came by his part in a most interest way. During the Spring 2008 production of Classic Tales Declassified, a slapstick “panto” show, he was dragged out of the audience on stage and performed so well that he was drafted into the CATS ranks!

    Amanda Fisch, last year’s Cinderella, is Glinda the Good Witch while Paul Mitton is the Guard. It wouldn’t be The Wizard of Oz without Toto, and pooch Mojo Willis fills the role. In typical CATS style, there’s dozens of youngsters cast as munchkins and “flying” monkeys.

    The Wizard of Oz opens June 26 at 7:30 p.m. with special discount preview and tickets priced at $12-$14, seniors $11-$13, students and children under 18 just $9. Subsequent performances are at 7:30 p.m. on June 27 plus July 1-3, 6 and 8-11, along with 1:30 p.m. matinees on June 28, July 5 and 12. With all ticket prices around $25 or well under—most well under depending on performance—this Broadway-quality production is a stimulus package in itself for theater lovers.

    For ticket prices see the calendar on page 13. Call the PAC at (909) 866-4970.