Nearly 50 Students from throughout the Metrowest & Boston areas have joined forces to take a tornado to Oz in "The Wiz," running

WELLESLEY, MA: “Ease on Down” to Babson’s Sorenson Center on January 12 and 13 to catch the Alexander Children’s Theatre School’s production of The Wiz.  A 49-member company of kids ages 9 to 18 are riding the tornado to Oz for this soulful, energetic rendition of the classic The Wizard of Oz, with music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls and a book by William F. Brown.

JulieAnn Govang of Ayer directs. “My first show with ACTS was Cabaret, working with just the teens.  This time around, I’ve got the whole kit’n kaboodle and it has been great.  The kids are very enthusiastic and eager to learn.  Everyone gets along famously, too - I really couldn’t ask for more.”  Govang is joined by music director Rick Kaydas, with choreography by ACTS students Angela Powell, Caitlin Labadini and alumni Eleni Kmiec.

14-year-old Danielle Frampton is enjoying her first ACTS experience.  “I enjoy that everyone is so easy to get along with. This is my first show and I've already made many friends.”

Based on The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz by L. Frank Baum. The story is the same as that which we all know by heart. Dorothy and her dog, Toto, are blown by a tornado into Munchkinland where she meets the Scarecrow, the Tinman, the Cowardly Lion and a variety of witches, not to mention a vast assortment of foreign personalities, who all help her ease on down the yellow brick road on a quest to find her way home.  The friends go to ‘The Wiz’ for assistance, but The Wiz turns out to be a phoney.  During their journey, however, everyone realizes they already possess everything they need to find happiness.

Featured in the cast are Annalee Mulhall (Dorothy), Eric Stengrevics (Scarecrow), Brian Hoefling (Tinman), Paul Kmiec (Lion), Louisa McBride (Toto), Danielle Frampton (Addaperle), Kristen Houpt (Evillene), Angela Powell (Glinda), Mariagrazia LaFauci (The Wiz), Amy Olson (Aunt Em) and James Forbes Sheehan (Uncle Henry).  Also in the ensemble are Brooke Allen, Melissa Allen, Meghan Berger, Chris Burgess, Miranda Cashman, Jessie Cass, Jen Dudley, Terilyn Eisenhauer, Nicholas Faville, Sarah Feldman, Jenna Gainsboro, Mercer Gary, Ilana Gensler, Christopher Govang, Peter Harrington, Julia Hoffman, Ryan Hussey, Kassie Kelly, Kara L'Heureux, Caitlin Labadini, Sylvia Lorenzini, Erica Lundin, Dylan MacDonald, Jacqui and Stephanie Malis, Kathryn Najarian, David Nicholson, Heidi Novack, Hilary Powell, J.P. Roby, Michael Scheinbart, Julia Sheehan, Alissa Shulman, Kerry Teman, Andrea Tempesta, Annie Warzecha, Maggie and Tricia Whitlock, and Joanna Yelen.  

Govang continues, “I try to challenge the kids.   Yeah - it’s a story everyone knows and there are a lot of presumptions that you can just phone it in - but I can’t let the cast do that!  What would they gain?  I want them to try NEW things and learn by having fun experimenting.”

14-year-old Sylvia Lorenzini is celebrating her ninth show with ACTS.  She describes, “As a munchkin I had to learn how to walk and talk as my character (which I had never done before). This experience helped me learn how to always be committed to my characters actions even when I mess up!”

Of ACTS, 16-year-old, seven-ACTS show veteran Mariagrazia LaFauci says, “ACTS   has been my gateway into musical theater. It has introduced me to the kind of people who are so talented that you feel blessed just to have been able to meet them. Better yet, I've gained a set of friends who encourage me in everything I do.”

Some kids have multiple roles in the production, such as 17-year-old Angela Powell, “I love Glinda because I get two beautiful songs as well as some nice acting.  On top of that, I get to dance in several numbers, and sing supporting vocals as a “Supreme” in many of the songs. I really feel involved throughout the entire show.”  The Wiz will be Powell’s third ACTS production, which she also helped choreograph.

The Wiz plays the Sorenson Center at Babson College January 12 and 13 at 7:30pm, with a matinee January 13 at 2:00pm.