Travel down the yellow brick road with The Legacy

The Legacy Theatre will travel down the yellow brick road again this weekend for four more performances of the beloved musical “The Wizard of Oz.”

The show, which will run through August 10, has performances on Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.

When Mark Smith, artistic director of the Tyrone theatre, talks about the challenges of bringing “The Wizard of Oz,” one of the most well-known musicals of all time, to the theatre’s stage, his main concern is whether or not people will enjoy it as much as the movie.

“I truly believe that fans of the movie will not only love ‘Oz’ at The Legacy, but they may even find themselves enjoying it a little more,” Smith stated.

He says that The Legacy has pulled out all the stops in trying to bring the magic of this revered MGM classic to the stage. Helping to achieve that magic is the use of the same professionally made costumes used by the MUNY in St. Louis and Theatre of the Stars in Atlanta.

Additionally, the set is designed by a New York scenic designer, the show boasts award-winning choreography, breathtaking multi-media and pyrotechnics abound and a cast of 60 actors, singers and dancers. Smith says he is proudest of how each of the professional actors inhabit their roles so truthfully.

Starring as Dorothy, the lovely, bright-eyed girl from Kansas, is Melissa Vazquez Cartwright. Cartwright was seen in The Legacy’s very first production, “A Christmas Survival Guide” and was most recently in “It’s A Wonderful Life.” “She is on stage for the entire show,” Smith boasts of the talent it takes to fill the role of Dorthy. “Although in the book, Dorothy is eight years old, we needed someone who would be able to portray not only Dorothy’s youthfulness but also her spirit and charm. Melissa has succeeded beautifully.”

The Tin Man and Glinda the Good Witch are played by husband and wife team Don and Shea Johnson. Shea was most recently seen in the Atlanta Lyric’s production of “Anything Goes” as the sassy songstress Reno Sweeney and on stage at The Legacy in “Some Enchanted Evening.” Don has performed professionally for many years and is making his Legacy Theatre debut in “The Wizard of Oz.” He is currently head of the Fine Arts Department at Landmark Christian School in Fairburn.

“I’ve been wanting to get Don and Shea together on stage since I first met them in 2004 when I took over the Drama Department at LCS. I am so glad the opportunity finally came. They’re little girl, Avery, is a Munchkin so the show is truly a family affair for them,” noted Smith.

Chase Todd, who is quickly making a name for himself in the Atlanta area, performs the role of Scarecrow, and Dustin Lewis will portray the Cowardly Lion. “Chase and Dustin capture the spirit of Ray Bolger and Bert Lahr from the movie so well that you might even think it’s them,” boasted Smith. “They don’t just mimic the characters, though. They use them as their template for creating very interesting and complex creatures of Oz.”

Bethany Hayes Smith is delightfully scary to the young ones and hilarious to the older patrons as the sarcastic Wicked Witch. Steven Lee Martin as Uncle Henry, Nancy Riggs as Aunt Em, father and daughter team, David and Eryn Dixon and outstanding dancer/singers Jason Marrett and Michael Humphrey round out the professional cast. The amazing young ladies of Doris Russell School of Performing Arts and a talented Teen Ensemble help fill the stage with incredible, show-stopping performances of “The Jitterbug” (a number cut from the movie) and “The Merry Old Land of Oz.”

The cast is also made up of 60 singing and dancing Munchkins. Split into two casts of 30 who perform at alternating shows, these Munchkins are played by some of the most talented children from all across South Metro Atlanta.

Even if one were to take away the amazing technical elements of the show, Smith still believes the story itself would bring people to the theatre to see this timeless classic. “What would childhood be without ‘The Wizard of Oz?’ Even as adults, we dream of traveling to far off places, having exciting adventures, and becoming heroes,” Smith said. “I believe the beauty and importance of this story is that it does keep us young at heart, and, at this present time in our country, who doesn’t need to be reminded that there truly is ‘no place like home!’”

“The Wizard of Oz” will play at The Legacy Theatre, 1175 Senoia Road in Tyrone, Friday through Sunday, Aug. 1-10. Performances will be held on Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $22 for seniors and students, $20 for groups of 20 or more and $15 for children 12 and younger. Tickets can be purchased by calling 404-895-1473 or visiting www.thelegacytheatre.org.

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