The yellow brick road leads to Centre County for the Performing Arts School of Central PA when the school’s Ballet Theatre presents its original full-length ballet, “The Wizard of Oz,” next weekend.
The production, choreographed by Linda Hildebrand, Ann Van Kuren and Rebecca Maciejczyk, relates the L. Frank Baum story in a fresh approach to this traditional and popular American fairy tale.
“We tried to stay close to the original story,” says Maciejczyk, “and we’ve given it a new dimension by making it a community event.”
She and her colleagues have maintained a local feel to their work by incorporating Centre County iconography into the storyline. Continuing, she mentions some of the things familiar to Centre Countians.
“We have the likeness of Old Main in our set,” she says, “and the characters cross Spring Creek.”
But the familiarity doesn’t stop there. The ballet features an Iron Furnace worker as the Tin Man, a set depicting the Allen Street Grill, the Corner Room and The Tavern and the Nittany Lion alluded to in the Cowardly Lion. Even Elizabeth Goreham, the State College mayor, will pop onto the set during the Sunday show.
Maciejczyk has compiled a variety of intriguing musical work for the score. The pieces include music by Gustav Holz, Dvorak, Shostakovich, Ottorino Respighi and, to lighten things up, P.D.Q. Bach (Peter Shickele).
“I just listened to a lot of music,” Maciejczyk explains, “and see the scenes in my head. Sometimes I wonder what the composer was thinking, and I let the music tell me what character it should go with.”
The production will also feature new, creative costuming and set designs Maciejczyk describes as “amazing.” She also finds it exciting to create work with so many characters and possibilities for them. The younger dancers get the opportunity to perform more than one role, which allows them costume changes, which they find fun.
“We’re doing something from the ground up,” Maciejczyk stresses, “and in this particular process, involving the community, it makes it more personal.”
IF YOU GO
What: “The Wizard of Oz,” ballet-style
When: 7 p.m., Saturday, May 30; 3 p.m., Sunday, May 31
Where: State Theatre, 130 W. College Ave., State College
Tickets: Available online at www.thestatetheatre.org
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