KCRep teams up with PigPen Theatre Co. for a whimsical, music-driven take on The Wizard of Oz

From The Wiz to Wicked, L. Frank Baum’s turn-of-the-century novel The Wizard of Oz has seen a plethora of interpretations—especially for the stage. As Dorothy and Toto stray far from their Kansas farm, KCRep’s upcoming production, which runs May 5–24, makes the classic story its own.

A collaboration with PigPen Theatre Co., KCRep artistic director Stuart Carden says the New York City-based indie troupe specializes in productions that place “music-making at the center of the experience.” In this reimagining, the score is performed entirely by 15 actor-musicians: The Cowardly Lion will timidly strum the ukulele; the Tinman operates as a rustic one-man-band, complete with a washboard integrated into the costume; Dorothy doubles as a cellist.

“It’s very much inspired by the classic film, which moves from black and white to technicolor when Dorothy opens her farmhouse door into Oz,” Carden says. “We’re doing a similar approach to the music. When we’re in Kansas, the music is very sparse, Americana and acoustic. When we land in Oz, everyone plays and it will be a much richer, more diverse sound.”

Although the interpretation is innovative, Carden says the script stays true to the original. “We’re not approaching it in a revisionist way, as Wicked does by giving Elphaba and Glinda a back story,” he says.

The cast features several local talents, including leading lady Amari Lewis as Dorothy. Shon Ruffin (of soul band The Freedom Affair) portrays a woman-cast Cowardly Lion, and frequent KCRep performer Jenise Cook returns as a luminous Glinda the Good Witch. A 10-member local youth cast rounds out the ensemble.

Beyond the music, the production teams up with Lawrence-based puppet company Simple Mischief, which has designed a puppeteered Toto, flying monkeys and more. “We’re approaching the flight of the Wicked Witch in a style that I call lo-fi, high imagination,” Carden says. All costumes, set design, lighting and sound effects are created in-house for a cohesive and whimsical vision.

“It’s going to be pretty fantastical,” Carden says.  

GO: May 7–24. Times vary. Spencer Theatre. Visit kcrep.orgfor tickets and more information. 

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