This summer Prescott’s 4th Wall Productions is lighting up the stage at the Hazeltine Theatre with an enchanting presentation of The Wizard of Oz. Join Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion and all your favorite characters on a colorful journey down the Yellow Brick Road.
Under the direction of Casey Knight, the production promises a vibrant Oz, with talented, familiar local actors mixing with new, up-and-coming performers. Audiences can expect robust performances and showstopping numbers, from the poignant “Over the Rainbow” to the playful “We’re Off to See the Wizard.” The design, featuring colorful costumes, immersive lighting, and imaginative staging, keeps the spirit of Oz alive.
An amazing technical team supports the well-rounded cast, including Assistant Director Cheri Echard and Music Director and vocalist Leah Morales, who fronts one of Prescott’s favorite local bands, Mood Swing.
The Wizard of Oz is one of the most storied and celebrated musicals in American entertainment history. The 1939 MGM film adaptation famously won Academy Awards for Best Original Song and Best Original Score. The stage versions, including the 1987 RSC adaptation and frequent revivals, continue to enchant audiences worldwide.
Many, especially younger, patrons first encountered these famous characters through the recent stage and film versions of the musical Wicked. When asked why she chose The Wizard of Oz for the Hazeltine’s inaugural season, Knight says, “I think part of the appeal of it had to do with that, of course, Wicked is so hot right now, and this show would fall (between the movies). The Wizard of Oz has produced an opportunity for people to reacquaint themselves with some of the information that follows Wicked, the whole story, because you’ve got Glinda and the wicked witch and all kinds of things.”
For Knight, embracing the show is only part of the joy of directing under the 4th Wall Productions organization. The larger (or Cowardly Lion’s) share of her passion comes from creating community theatre. “That’s what it’s all about. The more new people we can get, the better off community theatre will be. It’s just a matter of getting people in to have a taste of that camaraderie and the love that goes between cast and the building of the show.”
Community theatre plays a vital role in enriching local culture, offering a space where creativity, collaboration and storytelling come together to strengthen the fabric of a community. It affords opportunities for individuals of all ages and backgrounds to participate in the arts, whether onstage, behind the scenes, or in the audience, fostering a sense of belonging and shared purpose. Beyond entertainment, community theatre nurtures talent, promotes empathy through diverse narratives, and supports local business by attracting audiences and volunteers. At its heart it’s a celebration of the human spirit and the transformative power of coming together to create something meaningful.
Knight is passionate about what community theatre means to her: that there is an open audition, and that is where the cast is chosen, there is no fee to participate, and actors are asked to provide only their time and commitment to the show.
Knight wants to make sure everyone is aware that this is a show for the entire family, not ‘just’ a kids’ show. “Kids will enjoy this show, absolutely, but it’s just a good show. The music is fun, the costumes, the lighting effects, the visuals, the massive entrances with plumes of smoke and things like that. It’s for the whole family. Kids will enjoy it, but adults are going to love it.”
Dust off your ruby slippers, gather the family, and click your heels, because here in Prescott, following the Yellow Brick Road has never felt more magical.
The Wizard of Oz will play July 17-August 3 in the Hazeltine Theatre, 208 S. Marina Street in Prescott. For more information and tickets, contact the-hazeltine.com or call 928-493-2141.
