Follow the yellow brick road to Grover Middle School on Saturday and Sunday, April 1 and 2, to see West Windsor Plainsboro Dance Company’s production of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” A total of 175 dancers, ranging in age from three to adult, will be featured in a creative fusion of ballet, pointe, jazz, hip hop, and tap dancing. The production is sponsored by the West Windsor Department of Recreation. Tickets are $8.##M:[more]##
L. Frank Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” written in 1899, was based upon stories he told his children. It’s stage premiere was in 1903 at the Majestic Theater in New York City. The 1929 film, “The Wizard of Oz,” received three Academy Awards, and was the first movie to be shown on television annually — from 1956 to 1998.
New production numbers, original set design, new costumes, and innovative choreography are featured in the updated version of the timeless classic family show.
Marissa Wiener of West Windsor headlines the cast as Dorothy. She is an eighth grade student at Community Middle School. Marissa has been taking dance lessons with Roni Wilityer, co-owner of the Dance Corner, since she was three years old. She started out performing in the recitals and auditioned for the dance company when The Dance Corner first opened and was cast in many ensemble pieces.
“She takes five dance classes a week and is a committed and dedicated dancer,” says Wilityer. “She has moved up in the ranks as her technical prowess increased and she was chosen for a soloist role in our production of ‘The Tale of The Little Mermaid’ last spring. She shared the coveted role of Clara in our winter production of ‘The New Age Nutcracker’ — and this spring she has the starring role of Dorothy.”
Alison Richman of Plainsboro portrays the scarecrow. She is a sophomore at High School North. Elizabeth Wembacher, also of Plainsboro, portrays the Tin Man. She is a freshman at High School South. Molly Karlin portrays the Cowardly Lion. She is a sixth grade student at Community Middle School. Jennifer Rodgers of West Windsor portrays Glinda the Good Witch. Alicia Wezel of Plainsboro plays the Wicked Witch of the West.
West Windsor dancers include Maggie Abitanto, Ann Anchi-Xu, Julia Bahash, Emma Bailey, Jessica Bistrais, Karen Bortolus, Julie Bradley, Paige Brown, Mia Calotta, Caroline Charles, Keira Charles, Kelly Charles, Erina Davidson, Kelly Davidson, Steven Del Col, Sophia DiLeo, Alison Durkee, Marie Fanta, Marguerite Girandola, Celia Golod, Alexandra Hesterberg, Sarah Anne Hurley, Hope Jin, Fallon Keane, Ariana Kedoin, Nicole Kedoin, Prerana Kottapalli, and Stephanie Krakower.
Also, Amy Laresch, Julia Laresch, Katherine LiPuma, Alexa Lombardi, Karlie Lombardi, Lauren Louie, Taylor Madison, Lauren McTigue, Katrina Meni, Arohee Mittal, Ana Mulcahy, Aditi Nayak, Daniela Pazmino, Julia Perdigao, Nicole Potenza, Teagan Pruce, Julia Redavid, Catherine Raeter, Christine Rexroad, Reagan Ritterbush, Jennifer Rogers, Rebecca Rost, Mollie Rubinstein, Mira Sachdeva, Grace Sawyers, Emily Sharlach, Maggie Slonaker, Corinne Smith, Jeanette Smith, Shannon Smith, Victoria Song, Elissa Teles, Alexandra Valen, Rebecca Van Dyke, Anika Varty, Anika Vincent, Brittany Washington, Marissa Wiener, Laura Wolfe, Grace Xiong, and Lily Zhou.
Plainsboro dancers include Katherine Antos, Aaira Bagga,Taylor Britt, Caroline Bromberg, Katie Bromberg, Claire Burke, Elise Burton, Carolyn Campbell, Karen Campbell, Victoria Campbell, Jessica Chen, Cheryle Chong, Delaney Cochrane, Ashley Cornish, Emily Cornish, Jonathan Falzon, Emily Ford, Jessica Fox, Emily Frascella, Azure Gao, Ocean Gao, Amanda Guadalupe, Melissa Guadalupe, and Kate Henry.
Also, Oyinade Ifaturoti, Serena Jia, Katie Kane, Kristen Kane, Molly Karlin, Jade Kocher, Jessica Manuel, Christina Markus, Kelly Markus, Nicole McCarthy, Lauren McGinley, Christiana McGuigan, Claire Meiers, Isabelle Meiers, Annie Menninger, Amanda Mistretta, Sophia Newberg, Pia Pal, Lauren Palena, Lizzy Palena, Mia Pangasnan, Alison Richman, Hannah Richman, Kerry Richman, Allison Safranek, Anna Shi, Vinitha Simhadri, Alexandria Sine, Natasha Singer, Lindsey Velez, Elizabeth Wembacher, and Alicia Wezel.
Steve and Robin Rogers of West Windsor have donated four collectible autographed baseballs to benefit the dance company. The balls represent legendary players Mickey Mantle, Brooks Robinson, Tom Seaver, and Roger Clemens. Steve Rogers’s 13-year career as a right-handed pitcher with the Montreal Expos ended in 1985 with a throwing arm injury. Raffle tickets are $5. The winning tickets will be drawn before the 1 p.m. show on Sunday, April 2. — Lynn Miller
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, West Windsor Recreation and Parks, Grover Middle School, West Windsor, 609-799-6141. www.www.thedancecorner.org. Saturday, April 1, 2 and 7 p.m.; Sunday, April 2, 1 p.m.
