A record-breaking number of local kids are part of the Youth Theater’s production of Wizard of Oz. The play opens Friday night at the Egyptian Theatre.
The play features the talent of 33 local youth and another four who serve as the production’s tech crew.
This junior version of the Wizard of Oz is directed by Amber Hansen.
“It’s got all the great hits from the movie,” Hansen explained. “It's based on the movie version, however there's a big number called the jitterbugs which is the big dance number. It's very old timey swing style that takes place of her in the poppy field. The whole thing is a big dance competition the witch is hoping that Dorothy will dance herself to death so she can remove the ruby slippers, but Dorothy out dances everybody.”
Eli Elkin plays the Tin Man. This is his third Youth Theater production. Amanda Rossi plays the Scarecrow – a role she had auditioned for.
“It’s a really fun role,” Rossi said. “I've really gotten to know I feel like the scarecrow.”
And Zach Eggleton plays the Lion.
“I auditioned for one of the main three,” Eggleton continued. “I didn't really care which one I just wanted to be like one of the main three. I'm really happy that I got the lion because it's a really fun role to play.”
All 3 of them say they love being part of Youth Theater.
“Before this I was doing like school plays and stuff, but it's so much better 'cause they have special effects and lights and a big audience,” Elkin said. “It's so much better and it’s really fun.”
“We make such a big friend group out of this,” Rossi explained. “It becomes like your family and at the end of a show you just don't want to leave and you guys kind of like connect over school. You guys always kind of stay together and it's really fun, it's really great.”
“Yeah I've made like so much more friends in the Egyptian theater.” Eggleton added.
The Wizard of Oz opens at the Egyptian Theatre on Friday night at 7. There are two shows on Saturday at 2 and 7 pm and a Sunday matinee for Mother’s Day. The show is 70 minutes long -with no intermission. Tickets and more information at parkcityshows.com.
