Ease on Down the Road! Shades Valley Theatre presents THE WIZ

Who among us hasn't dreamt of what life beyond the rainbow might be like? THE WIZ will take you on a jubilant journey down the yellow brick road, without having to travel all the way to Kansas -- so pack your bags and get your tickets 'cause your trip to the Emerald City begins at Shades Valley Theatre! (6100 Old Leeds Rd., Irondale)

• THURS, April 29 at 7:00 pm
• NO SHOW ON FRIDAY
• SATURDAY, May 1 at 7:00 pm
• SUNDAY, May 2 at 2:30 pm

L. Frank Baum's classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which introduced us to Dorothy and her friends in 1900, comes to life in grand style as Shades Valley Theatre presents THE WIZ -- a fresh, energetic, contemporary retelling of Baum's original tale infused with rock, gospel and soul (book by William F. Brown, music and lyrics by Juilliard alum and jazz pianist Charlie Smalls).

Directed by Roy Hudson, THE WIZ features a stellar student cast including Savannah Hudson as Dorothy, Dallas Taylor as The Scarecrow, Nicholas Burroughs as The Tinman, Andrew Annello as The Cowardly Lion, and Patrick May as The Wiz.

Variety wrote "THE WIZ remains a multicultural collage of contemporary slang and imagery whose themes speak to the broadest possible audience. Unquestionably, the humor and the heartbeat of the piece remain African-American at their source, but the overall effect is pluralistic and inclusive. In the truest and most positive sense of the phrase, this show is color-blind."

Tickets for THE WIZ are available at the door:
Adults $10, Students & Children $6

FUN FACTS: The original 1975 Broadway production of THE WIZ won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and has since had revivals in New York, London, San Diego and the Netherlands. A film adaptation was released in 1978, and an off-Broadway concert version was staged in June 2009.

For information about Shades Valley Theatre Academy or to become a Supporter of SVTA, please contact Roy Hudson at (205) 379-5350 x-657