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THE WIZ – Just 3 more performances

"THE WIZ" EASES DOWN THE ROAD IN WEST WINDSOR

The Pennington Players
 The Pennington Players present an exciting Broadway Musical at Kelsey Theatre   –  JUST THREE MORE  PERFORMANCES   Friday Mar 13, Sat Mar 14 and Sun Mar 15th!   
West Windsor, NJ (March 11, 2009)   The final performances of THE WIZ, being produced by the Pennington Players, the longest operating community theatre community company in central New Jersey, will be presented on the stage at Mercer County Community College’s Kelsey Theatre March 13-15, 2009. 
Directed by Kyrus of Hamilton Township, this winner of seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, featuring music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls, is a soulful retelling of classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. The original production ran for four years and over 1600 performances. The most popular song from the production is "Ease on Down the Road", sung by the characters as they dance down the Yellow Brick Road.
Although based on L. Frank Baum’s Wizard of Oz in which a little girl named Dorothy is carried away from her home by a Tornado and transported to the Land of Oz, THE WIZ takes the classic fairy tale in an all-new direction with an exciting rock score, and a decidedly modern libretto that reframes the story in such a way that it seems somehow more relevant. The musical merges Dorothy and her friends with the rhythms and soul of Motown and brings to life the usual "Oz" characters and a few we may not know as well.
The production being mounted by the Pennington Players, boasts a truly multi-cultural cast, perhaps the most diverse yet seen on the Kelsey stage.  In addition to the principal roles, the "chorus" parts are covered by a talented group of singers who are part of the pit.  With the music director Jay Kawarsky, they are affectionately known as "Jay and the Pits"   The onstage ensemble parts are covered by a talented group of dancers who are everything from the tornado to the yellow brick road to poppies to citizens of OZ.  The feel of show will be contemporary grunge, but with the heart and soul of the original OZ story.   
According to director, Kyrus, who is very passionate about this show and this production in particular, "THE WIZ presents great opportunities unlike any other production, not only at Kelsey Theatre, but in musical theater in general.  The original movie and original Broadway cast featured an entirely African-American cast and crew.  I feel that this show is so much more than just black or just white… it is about everyone.  For me, THE WIZ is about all nationalities and all backgrounds and this production will showcase the melting pot that we call America."
THE WIZ features a talented cast that includes Sasha Alexandria of Trenton, NJ as Dorothy; Allwyn "Lynn" Baskin of Lambertville, NJ as Scarecrow; Nicholas Pecht of Hamilton as Tin Man; Jamel Taylor of Clarksburg, NJ as Lion; Samille Ganges of Bordentown as Evillene; Kim LaSala of Fairless Hills, PA as Addeperle; Tamika Reed of Hamilton, NJ as Glinda; and Antwan Michael of Hightstown, NJ as The Wiz.   
The cast also includes Cheryl King of Robbinsville, NJ as Aunt Em; Steve Browne of Bensalem PA as Uncle Henry; Alexander Horowitz of Yardley, PA as Lord High Underling; and Beverly Kuo-Hamilton of Princeton, NJ; Aimee Roubidoux of Levittown, PA and Diane Westcott of Hamilton, NJ as the Pit Singers.  The cast is completed by the very talented and energetic dance corps featuring Elena Caracappa of Bordentown, NJ, Tara Fregia of Levittown, PA, Rachel Tovar of Hamilton, NJ, Alexandra Pollard of Lawrenceville, NJ, Heather Santos of East Windsor, NJ, and Talia Shumsonk of Levittown, PA.  
In addition to Kyrus, the production staff is rounded out by Judi Parrish of West Trenton as the Producer; J.A. Kawarsky of New Hope, PA as the musical director; Hilary Goldman of Princeton, NJ as the choreographer; John Boccanfuso of Yardville, NJ as Stage Manager; Chris Ghaffoor of Hamilton, NJ as lighting designer; and Kelley Tharpe of Ewing, NJ as the costume designer.
Final performances of The Pennington Players production of THE WIZ will be Friday, March 13th at 8pm, Saturday 14th at 8pm and Sunday March 15th, at 2pm in the Kelsey Theatre on the West Windsor Campus of Mercer County Community College. The theatre is located on the college’s West Windsor Campus at 1200 Old Trenton Road. Free parking is available next to the theatre. To order tickets, go online at www.kelseyatmccc.org, call 609-570-3333, or stop by the Kelsey Theatre Box Office. Ticket prices are $16 for adults, $14 for seniors and $12 for students and children. The Kelsey Theatre is wheelchair accessible and provides assisted listening devices upon request. More information about this production of THE WIZ  can be found online at www.penningtonplayers.org