Arts & Entertainment
Toto, I Don't Think We're In New Hyde Park Anymore
The Wizard of Oz was performed at Memorial Park.
The Plaza Theatrical Production Company performed the Wizard of Oz to a crowd ranging from young children to their parents and grandparents at Memorial Park on Wednesday night.
The show, roughly one hour in length, has been tailor made for children to learn, sing along and enjoy the retelling of one of the most prolific stories of all time.
Producers Kevin and Phyllis Harrington worked alongside Director Tommie Gibbons to bring the land of Oz into Memorial Park.
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Kevin Harrington is nearly a 30-year veteran producer/director of the stage. His past performances have ranged from Cabaret to Fiddler on the Roof.
"This is our perennial summer production", said Thea Sieban, the thespian portraying the Wicked Witch of the West. "It is definitely our most popular show for people of all ages."
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Plaza Productions puts on 10 to 15 shows a year across Long Island at notable locations such as Eisenhower Park and the Long Island Children's Museum.
This particular ensemble cast has performed together for nearly five years. Emma Harrington, now nearly 16, has been performing the role of Dorothy since she was 11-years-old.
"It's been a great experience," Harrington said. "I was pretty much born into the company and theatre has been such a huge part of my life."
Along with Harrington, the cast consisted of Lisa Berman as Auntie Em/Glinda the Good Witch, Patrick Rosenberger as the Scarecrow, Jeremy Smith as the Tin Man, TC Weiss as the Cowardly Lion and Ted Firetog as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
"I think it's great that the Wizard of Oz was performed in our neighborhood," said Abel Chowdhury. "It was my favorite childhood movie!"
Plaza Productions has been touring the show since late June and it will run through the end of August. Besides performing across Long Island, the company has made its way as far as Baltimore for performances.
"It's been a very long and very successful production," Sieban said. "We enjoy running it every summer."
