Experiencing the Wizard of Oz

Experiencing the Wizard of Oz

By Carol Flynn

Enjoying a theatrical performance is a great way to take a break from real life for a few hours, especially when the show is a beloved fantasy like the Wizard of Oz.

The Beverly Theater Guild is offering four performances of this play, based on the musical movie version starring Judy Garland, from April 28 – 30 at the Baer Theater at 2153 W. 111th Street. There’s still time to reserve tickets, or they may be purchased at the door the day of the show, although the Sunday afternoon performance is almost sold out.

The original Wizard of Oz movie, according to the U.S. Library of Congress, is the most-viewed movie in history. The movie premiered in theaters in 1939, and it reached the entire population once it started being broadcast on television in 1956.

The movie was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture. “Over the Rainbow” took home the Oscar for Best Original Song. There are few folks who can’t hum at least a few bars of that song.

The Wizard of Oz is an example of great story telling. The audience learns about determining what to value in life, finding your true self, and appreciating the bonds of friendship through the experiences of fanciful characters, all told through delightful scenes and musical numbers. These are important issues that children deal with, and the themes never get outdated for adults, either.

According to Scott Sowinski, the director of the Wizard of Oz for the Beverly Theater Guild (BTG), “Engaging with each other through story telling is one of the strongest ways we can connect with each other as human beings. Community theater allows us to do this in ways we normally wouldn’t. I wouldn’t go to the grocery store and start singing to you; it’s not a normal act but it is a very pure and honorable act. Community theater lets us do this, lets us learn from each other, lets us experience something together.”

Sowinski, who lives in Orland, is an educator as well as a director and actor. He grew up in the Beverly area, and was active in local theater groups. He then spent years in New York as a director and actor, before returning to his south side roots. He holds an Ed.D. degree, and is the District Director for the School City of Hammond and the head of the Hammond Arts & Performance Academy. He lives in Orland.

He worked with the BTG about twenty years ago, and liked the idea of working on this production of such an iconic play.

“The Wizard of Oz is such a wonderful story, about someone who thinks she wants more from her life who discovers she already has it. It speaks to me personally, I went all over the place to try to find myself only to realize it was right here all along, that I valued my south side heritage,” said Sowinski.

According to the co-producers of the show, Wayne Wendell and Tony Zawila, the Wizard of Oz is the largest and most expensive production the BTG has mounted to date. This is a milestone for the BTG, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.

The BTG actually started in the 1920s as part of the Little Theater Movement, in which small, non-profit-minded, local theater companies formed to allow for experimentation, something that couldn’t be accomplished in the large commercial theaters, too pressured to create profits. These community theaters offered amateurs and professionals alike opportunities to explore their creative sides. Playwrights tried out new ideas, and budding actors got experience and exposure.

The performing arts were also a big part of the Playground Movement, and plays, concerts, and other events were held indoors and outdoors in city parks.

Chicago was a leader in both movements. Jane Addams even started a theater group at her social settlement, Hull House.

The BTG originated at Ridge Park at 96th Street and Longwood Drive. In 1963, the BTG split into two groups. One group stayed at the park, and the other group, which won the legal right to keep the Beverly Theater Guild name, pursued new interests. In 1969, when the first Beverly Art Center opened on the campus of the Morgan Park Academy, the BTG established a relationship there. Except for a brief affiliation with the “new” Beverly Arts Center at 111th Street and Western Avenue, the BTG has made its home at the Baer Theater in the original Art Center.

Wendell has served as the BTG president for the last four years. He lives in Beverly and has been active in local theater since the 1980s. He is described as the “heart and soul” of today’s BTG. Although he decided not to pursue the stage for a professional career, he has considerable experience on the stage and behind the scenes. His first role as a youngster was playing the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz.

The BTG is well-experienced in offering musicals. Beginning with Oklahoma in 1964, they’ve staged everything from The Music Man to Into the Woods to Footloose.

As the producer, Wendell recognizes the responsibility of offering The Wizard of Oz. People in the audience already know the songs and the dialogue and will be ready to join right in on the trip down the yellow brick road.

“Some of the people auditioning had their own visions for where this production could go, but the audience has expectations for this and we’re staying very true to the original movie version,” said Wendell.

He added, “Of course, we all recognize that actors and directors bring their own unique interpretation to any story, which is all part of the fun for a production like the Wizard of Oz. Everyone up there on stage loves what they are doing.”

Wendell noted that the BTG productions are never pre-cast or the directors pre-chosen - everyone goes through the audition and interview process. The director, musical director, and choreographer are paid professionals. The cast and the crew are all volunteers, but that doesn’t translate as inexperienced amateurs.

BTG is a community theater with professional standards, and looking back at decades of newspaper articles, the reviews of BTG offerings have consistently been full of high praise.

“It’s been instilled in the Beverly Theater Guild from the earliest days to do it right or go home,” said Wendell.

Sowinski said the cast and crew are up to the challenge of putting on the Wizard of Oz. He acknowledged that everyone knows that no one is going to best Judy Garland and the original actors in their roles, so that actually takes pressure off of them.

“This is a show everybody already loves, no one comes to the Wizard of Oz saying, ‘Gee, I wonder what this is all about.’ We just have to tell the story honestly, to make it magical and fun, yet relevant and contemporary,” said Sowinski.

BTG always uses a live band for musicals, and this production includes a song and dance number, Jitterbug, that was cut from the original movie, which will be something new for the audience.

One of the interesting traits of community theater is that it brings together on stage people from diverse backgrounds who have differing perspectives about being in “show business.”

Jordyn TeBeest Fraats will play Dorothy. She studied voice at the Moody Bible Institute and provides music ministry coordination at the Moody Church. She is pursuing theater as a professional career, and this is her first time working with the BTG.

Said TeBeest Fraats, “I feel so honored to have the opportunity to play this character who is so beloved by people of all ages. Of course, there is pressure to do her justice, the way everyone would love to see and hear her, and that has made this so enjoyable and such a unique challenge as an actress and a singer.”

Sowinski has nothing but praise for the leading lady, who is on stage for practically every scene, a big responsibility.

“Jordyn is an incredible performer, a wonderful actress and singer; she is Dorothy. I have every confidence in her. I think people will be over the moon at how amazing she is in the role. We are in very good hands with her telling her story,” said Sowinski.

This production is a family affair for TeBeest Fraats. Joshua Fraats, her husband, plays the Tin Man. They live in Oak Park.

The Wicked Witch of the West will be played by Meg Massaro, from Beverly, who is well-known to BTG patrons. She has been involved with the BTG since 2006, and is Vice President of the BTG.

Massaro worked in management for many years, and pursued the stage as a secondary career. She is as passionate about her work with a not-for-profit group that helps young people from underserved areas with college enrollment and career paths as she is about her time on the stage.

She is also a big supporter of community theater.

“There are a lot of community theaters around Chicagoland that work so hard to bring theater to people that is affordable. Talent comes from all over. Some have been in professional theater. Some have other jobs, and are out there because they love it, and it’s an opportunity to get on stage. You see some great talent that is already established, and emerging talent as well,” said Massaro, who noted that some people find an excitement and energy in doing community theater that they don’t find in their jobs.

As far as the BTG goes, “We pride ourselves on the fact we’ve been around for sixty years, and I think that’s pretty telling of what we’ve been able to offer folks,” said Massaro.

Massaro said she was honored to get the role of one of fiction’s most famous antagonists. Everyone loves to hate the Wicked Witch.

“To be honest, as excited as I was, I was thinking, these are big shoes to fill. I’m pretty much putting my own spin on it with the guidance of Scott. He and I really click on how we envision the Witch. I love working with him because he is giving me the freedom to do what I would like to do. But I don’t want to give too much away,” said Massaro.

Sowinski revealed a few things about the Witch. She’ll be “more glamorous than in the movie, but still wicked and terrifying and still kind of kooky.”

And, of course, she’ll have her flying monkeys.

Noting that the audience will have expectations for this show, Massaro said, “We’re going to do our best to meet and exceed those expectations.”

The Cowardly Lion will be played by Ben Walker. A licensed clinical social worker who lives in Blue Island and practices in Morgan Park, this is his first venture into community theater.

“Performing is one of my favorite things to do. Singing has always been an outlet for me, a way to express myself, and I l enjoy the collective work, but I didn’t pursue it as a career path. Since college, I’ve been hoping to get involved in community theater, and the timing was right,” said Walker.

“The Cowardly Lion is such a great role. He doesn’t want to be violent or scary, but it’s what’s expected of him. It’s a role people can relate to - who am I and what has been expected of me and how do I feel about myself as a result of this. And like everyone else in the show, he already has what he needs. He cries and he whines about going through things, but he still does it, because it matters to him,” said Walker.

As the newcomer to community theater, he’s finding the experience enjoyable. He said it was a nice chance to get to know some really great people. He appreciates the special chemistry among the principal actors, and the clear vision that Sowinski brings to the production.

“Everyone is there because they want to be, this isn’t a job for anyone. The challenge is balancing the movie version with who we are as performers. The audience will come to see the show because they love the movie, and we want to give them that, yet we are also creating something of our own. I’m trying to bring my own thing to this while honoring Bert Lahr, who played the Lion in the movie. I’m having fun with it and being silly. Silliness is a big part of the Wizard of Oz,” said Walker.

Walker said he hopes the audience gets transported for a while to another place, forget their cares, connect in their own way, and have a good time. If they get the message that what they need to change their lives probably already exists, that would be great, too.

“And,” Walker added, “I would like everyone to realize how much harder it is to do this performance when you are wearing a giant furry onesie.”

The BTG is happy with Walker in return.

Sowinski said, “Community theater opens the door for possibilities. We want people like Ben to come back just as many times as Meg has. And we want people like Jordyn to have an amazing experience and continue on with her professional ambitions.”

Then there is Toto, played by a real dog, Stella, owned by Stephanie Reusz, who is in the ensemble cast.

“Having a live Toto adds to the spontaneity of the performance,” said Massaro. Stella gets good reviews from her co-stars.

“Stella is a wonderful, very well-mannered dog, and she’s been really fun to work with,” said TeBeest Fraats.

Walker added that “Stella is very chill,” but that dog choreography had to be worked out to make sure she stays safe.

TeBeest Fraats described it as “Toto-ography.” Stella has to be inconspicuously moved offstage for some dance numbers, then reappear at the end of the numbers. TeBeest Fraats noted that this is not really part of the performance, not stage direction or choreography, but an example of “another part of the artistic direction for this show, reminding us of the entire process that goes into making this show come alive.”

The other artistic staff include Madeline Curtin as choreographer and Sharon Mason as music director.

The other leading cast members are Andrew Dicksen as the Scarecrow, Shannon Bracken as Glinda the Good Witch, and Fred Eberle as the Wizard. Dozens of talented adults, teens, and children play additional roles, from Munchkins to winged monkeys to Emerald City townspeople.

For the Beverly Theater Guild, the goal for the audience’s experience is that everyone has a good experience at this cultural event without spending a fortune to go downtown.

“It’s great to go to the theater and leave the real world behind for a while,” said Wendell.

“We want the audience to leave humming a tune from the show, and two days later, still be humming that tune.”

For information and tickets, visit beverlytheatreguild.org.