For Immediate Release: April 1, 2006
Media Contact: Heather Rogers, Mum Puppettheatre, 215.925.8686

Known largely for original productions of wordless mask and puppet theatre, Mum Puppettheatre tackles its biggest challenge yet: The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum with music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg. Directed by Robert Smythe with Musical Direction by Jim Ryan, The Wizard of Oz runs May 23 to June 17, 2006. Tickets to preview performances (May 23 - 30) cost $1 - $6. Tickets to all other performances range $25-$30. Performances take place Tuesdays through Thursdays at 7pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Saturdays at 2pm. Tickets can be purchased by calling Mum's box office at 215.925.7686, visiting www.mumpuppet.org, or stopping by the theatre at 115 Arch Street, Monday through Friday, 10am to 5pm. This production is part of Mum's Evening Series and is best enjoyed by audiences 5 and up.

Look no further than your own back yard for a groundbreaking musical guaranteed to captivate you with the power of theater as only Mum could envision it. Based on the beloved book written by L. Frank Baum over a century ago, The Wizard of Oz features the music and dialogue of the celebrated 1939 film. True to Mum's collaborative nature, the production includes a mélange of different art forms. Puppet Designer and Mum Artistic Fellow, Martina Plag explains, "As a German The Wizard of Oz is the quintessential American folk story to me. The goal of each piece was really to capture the essence of each moment in the movie and the book and meld them together into a real-life stage experience."

Smythe, who directs the piece, has assembled an outstanding group of performers trained in stage acting, movement, and music specifically, whom he feels "bring such new life to this American classic." The cast of eight features actress Jillian Louis as Dorothy; Elizabeth Dowd as the Wicked Witch; Erin Reilly as Glinda; Dave Droxler as the Scarecrow; Rob Neddoff as the Cowardly Lion; Steve Hatzai as Professor Marvel; and Aaron Oster as the Tin Man. Robert continues, "I really want the audience to leave feeling a real connection between themselves and the story. I want people to go home and read the book and the movie together."

Join Mum for Coffee and Conversation nights on Wednesday, May 24, June 7 and 14, 2006. These post-show discussions include refreshments provided by Whole Foods Market and feature scintillating discussions with some of the area's most vibrant professionals. The first Coffee and Conversation will be a Meet and Greet with the cast and creators of the show. Information on guest speakers for the other two evenings will be available at www.mumpuppet.org. Whole Foods Market and Third Federal Bank generously sponsor coffee and Conversation evenings.

Mum Puppettheatre makes art that moves, creating theatre beyond the scope of human actors, often without words. We integrate the plastic, visual and performing arts by creating stunning, emotionally compelling and breathtakingly beautiful theatre, using puppets, masks and the human body. Our mission is to collaborate with artists of all disciplines and backgrounds to explore the interdisciplinary nature of puppetry, and share the results with people of all ages, independent of language or culture, on stage, on tour and in the classroom.

Written by L. Frank Baum
Music and Lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg
Directed by Robert Smythe
Musical Direction by Jim Ryan
Puppet Design/Construction by Martina Plag
Associate Music Director - Katie Stanislavskaya
Set & Lighting Design - Jorge Cousineau
Costume Design - Susan Smythe
Sound Design - Nick Kourtides
Starring Elizabeth Dowd, David Droxler, Steve Hatzai, Dave Johnson, Jillian Louis, Robert Neddoff, Aaron Oster, Erin Reilly

At Mum Puppettheatre, 115 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tickets: $25-30. For Tickets and Information Contact: Mum Puppettheatre, 115 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106. 215.925.7686, www.mumpuppet.org.

Go to News Releases»