The Caryl Crane Children’s Theatre will be closing its twenty second season with “The Wizard of Oz,” a dramatization by Anne Coulter Martens, from the highly famous novel by L. Frank Baum.  This delightful children’s classic will perform September 5 & 6 at 7:30 p.m. and on September 7 at 2:30 p.m. in McBride Auditorium on the BGSU Firelands campus. The action begins when Dorothy (Kelsea Freeman, Sandusky St. Mary’s Central Catholic) finds herself in beautiful Munchkinland.  She stumbles into the mysteries of the land of Oz where she meets a variety of highly interesting characters: Melinda, the Good Witch of the North and Glinda, the Good Witch of the South (Liz Kagy, Norwalk High School); the Scarecrow (Lindsay Kaatz, Sandusky St. Mary’s Central Catholic); the Tin Woodman (Luke Widman, Sandusky High School); the Cowardly Lion (Nathan Huntley, Perkins High School); the Wizard of Oz (Cody Noon, Edison High School), and Belinda, the Wicked Witch of the West (Gina Terry, BGSU Firelands).

            The wonders of Dorothy’s journey do not stop there as she also encounters the antics of the captivating Munchkins (Brandon Fries, Main Street School, Norwalk; Hannah Weatherly and Emily Roberts, Meadowlawn Elementary, Perkins; Jimmy Kaatz, St. Peter’s Elementary, Huron; Karli Anthony-Boyd, Main Street School, Norwalk; and Mackenzie Napholz, Woodlands Intermediate, Huron).  In the Emerald City, Dorothy also meets the Wizard’s guards Captain Verdo (Dustin Dupont, Sandusky) and Sergeant Verdot (Nat Dupont, Sandusky High School) and the Wizard/s maids, Jade (Kira Sizemore, Norwalk Middle School) and Jadet (Danielle Johnson, Briar Middle School, Perkins).

            The cast ensemble is completed with Clare Nejedly (Sandusky High School) as Amber, Madison Orzech (McCormick Middle School, Huron) as Topaz, Julia Martello (Woodlands Intermediate, Huron) as Ruby, and Katie Gorsuch (Berlin-Milan Middle, Edison) as Garnet.

            Dr. Ronald M. Ruble, associate professor emeritus of speech and theatre and Artistic Director of the Caryl Crane Children’s Theatre will direct this enchanting story.  Lending their artistic talents to the production staff are David L. Gilmore (Firelands College) as Designer and Technical Director; Davy Davis (Sandusky) as Scenic Artist and Properties Designer; Carolyn R. Griswold (Sandusky) as Costume Designer & Coordinator; Dean Shullick (Huron) as Makeup Designer; Andrea Buggele (Berlin Heights) as Graphic Arts Designer; and Julie A. Hamann (Firelands College) as Box Office Manager.

            For reservations call 419-433-5560, ext. 20747, or, 419-372-0747 beginning September 2.  The box office will be open Tuesday through Friday at 1 p.m. daily and at 3 p.m. on Saturday.  All seats are reserved and prices are: Adults-$8.00, Seniors-$6.00, School Children-$5.00, and BGSU Firelands Students-$4.00.  Group rates of $6.00 per person are available for groups of 15 or more.  For additional information on the play, contact Dr. Ruble at 419-433-5560, ext. 20642.