Colts Neck Resident to Perform in Wizard of Oz Comes at Count Basie

Phoenix Productions is bringing a full-scale musical revival of The Wizard of Oz to the for two weekends later this month and one weekend at the Strand Center for the Arts in Lakewood.

The Phoenix revival features a cast of more than 40 local performers led by Madelyn Monaghan of Little Silver as Dorothy. The supporting cast includes Marybeth Jacobson of Colts Neck as Aunt Em/Glinda the Good Witch, Lauren J. Cooke of Freehold as Miss Gulch/the Wicked Witch, Joseph York of Asbury Park as the Tin Man, Dan Peterson of West Long Branch as the Scarecrow, Joe Ronga of Point Pleasant Beach as the Cowardly Lion, Bruce McKillip of Hillidaysburg, PA as Professor Marvel/The Wizard, and Mike DeVito of Tinton Falls as Uncle Henry/Oz Guard. This production also features a complete set, full costumes, and a live orchestra. 

Jacobson is a singer and stay-at-home mom who has been living and loving theatre since she was a young child. She became part of the Phoenix family in 2002 when she starred as Anna in The King & I. Since then, Jacobson has played several roles in Phoenix shows including Maria in The Sound of Music, Guinevere in Camelot, Muzzy Van Hossmere in Thoroughly Modern Millie, and the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella. She also reprised several of these roles at Phoenix’s silver anniversary celebration, 25 Years of Phoenix.

Performances will begin April 20 and conclude May 6.

Based on L. Frank Baum’s novel and the 1939 film, this musical adaption of The Wizard of Oz was originally produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company in London in 1987 with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg, according to a release. The score is full of tunes from the timeless film such as “We’re Off To See the Wizard”, If I Only Had A Brain”,  “The Merry Old Land of Oz”, and “Over The Rainbow."

Count Basie Theatre performances are April 20, 21, and 22, and the following weekend, April 27, 28, and 29. Friday and Saturday performances are at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees are at 3 p.m. At the Strand Center for the Arts, two final performances will take place on May 5th and 6th at 2pm. Tickets, priced at $20 to $29, can be ordered by phone at 732-747-0014.

More information is available at www.phoenixredbank.com.