The Wizard of Oz - Canton Comic Opera Company July 10, 2010

The Canton Comic Opera Company will present the 1903 musical extravaganza THE WIZARD OF OZ with music by Paul Tietjens and A.B. Sloane and Book and Lyrics by L. Frank Baum on Saturday, July 10 at 7:00 pm. The performance will be at the historic Canton Palace Theatre, 605 Market Avenue North, Canton, Ohio 44702. THE WIZARD OF OZ will feature a cast of 30 and a 28 piece orchestra directed by Joseph N. Rubin. Tickets in advance are $20.00 for adults and $10 for students. Tickets can be purchased by phone at 330-492-8011 or on the Canton Comic Opera Company’s website at www.cantoncomicoperaco.com

While entirely forgotten today, the 1903 THE WIZARD OF OZ was one of the most successful musical comedies of the turn of the century and firmly cemented the timeless story and characters in the hearts and minds of the American public, 37 years before the widely known MGM film. THE WIZARD OF OZ opened on Broadway in 1903 and ran for a total of 464 performances. The original cast starred the comedy team of Fred Stone as the Scarecrow and David Montgomery as the Tin-Woodsman. THE WIZARD OF OZ toured the country for seven seasons following its Broadway run, stopping at Canton’s Grand Opera House on October 27, 1904, May 1, 1905, April 24, 1906, and August 28, 1908. The Canton Comic Opera Company’s production of THE WIZARD OF OZ will mark the first production of the original 1903 version with orchestra in over 80 years.

L. Frank Baum, author of the beloved children’s book of the same title, penned the book and lyrics for this musical extravaganza. Paul Tietjens and A.B. Sloane composed the lilting musical score which also numerous interpolated numbers, catering to the publics’ ever changing taste. Popular song hits from the production include “Sammy,” “Hurrah for Baffin’s Bay,” and “When You Love, Love, Love.” The original production was lavishly staged by Julian Mitchell, one of the most famous theatrical directors of the time and inspired the creation of Victor Herbert’s musical extravaganza BABES IN TOYLAND (1903).

THE WIZARD OF OZ tells and familiar story of Dorothy Gale who is transported by a cyclone from her home in Kansas to the Land of Oz. While in Oz Dorothy, and her pet cow Imogene, encounter the Scarecrow, Tin-Woodsman, and Cowardly Lion, who accompany her on her journey to meet the Wizard. The 1903 extravaganza, written with adults as well as children in mind, offers Baum’s own fresh perspective on the story that is unlike any other interpretation of the work.

Official Website: http://www.cantoncomicoperaco.com