City of Pontiac, IL

10/04/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/04/2022 10:22

Vermillion Players Presents: The Wizard of OZ Unified Theater

Vermillion Players is excited to announce our FIRST EVER adult UNIFIED theatre production of The Wizard of Oz. Directed by Laura Baumgardner and Produced by Brooke Sauter and Terri Heinz-Butler.

Enchantment abounds as Dorothy (Baylee Ritter), with her trusty dog Toto (Jamie Martin) begins her wondrous journey to The Land of Oz! Good Witch Glinda (Alexa Bennett) and the Munchkins (Eric Lewis, Catrina Cooper, Haley Salinas, Russ Roudebush) point Dorothy toward the Yellow Brick Road, a magical path to The Emerald City in hopes the Wizard (Nick Ellis) can help her find her way home to Auntie Em (Cherie Monical) and Uncle Henry (John Horton). Along the way she meets new friends including the Scarecrow (Michael Aaron), the Tin Man (Mitch Kelley), and the Lion (Nathan Joerndt) and makes a new enemy, the Wicked Witch of the West (Clo Mayback). Narrators Cody Hatzer and Austin Vanover help tell the story. Also in the cast are Shane Lautenschlaeger, James Housman, Joe List, Ethan Bray, Sam Gibson, and Bre Noordhof.

What is Unified theatre? It is an awesome opportunity for people with and without intellectual disabilities to perform together. Unified Partners act alongside and assist their partners as needed. Director Laura Baumgardner has been directing her Life Skills students at PTHS for over 20 years in numerous Unified Theatre productions and Vermillion Players is now offering this opportunity to the community! We hope you will join us for this fun production.

Show dates are Friday and Saturday, October 14 and 15 with doors opening at 6:30PM and the show starting at 7:00PM and Sunday, October 16 with doors opening at 1:30PM and the show at 2:00PM. Tickets can be purchased in advance beginning Monday, September 12 by calling 815-844-1187 10AM-4PM Monday through Friday or online at PontiacEagle.com. Tickets are $5 each. All seating is general admission. Tickets will also be available at the door.