First time director follows Yellow Brick Road to Oz

May 20, 2016 · 0 Comments

Director Danielle Gamache shared a look into LP Stage Productions’ newest musical The Wizard of Oz, which opens next week at Grace Tipling Hall, with Shelburne Free Press readers this week.

She opened up about first time directing, the joys and challenges of a large cast of young performers and the excitement around “the beloved classic.”

“We are so excited to be bringing The Wizard of Oz to the Grace Tipling stage,” says Ms. Gamache. “These are characters that people already love, and it has been such an adventure to bring them to life with the talent that we have.”

With almost fifty people in the cast, Daneille Gamache admits the company has “seen some challenges,” but also says, it has been “an incredible experience to work with so many different people, each with something different to offer.”

“The kids in this show have been working so hard,” says Ms. Gamache. “A lot of them are experiencing their first time ever being on stage, and that is so wonderful to see! They are all having a blast exploring the world of acting, singing, and dancing and they are learning so much about performing in front of an audience and bringing a story to life.

“It is magical to bring so many dedicated people together and we are seeing a lot of team work here, especially with the older kids acting as mentors for some of our younger cast, going as young as four and five years old. It is beautiful to see.”

The director says the company has “tried to stay true to the film [audiences] all know and love.”

“These are characters that people can now quote and that people are going to be looking for when they see the show,” she says.

Ms. Gamache says she grew up loving this movie and story, and that there is a lot of excitement about the new song that wasn’t seen in the film as well.

“This version includes The Jitterbug,” she explains, “an incredibly exciting and high energy number featuring a lot of dancing and jazzy vocals.”

Once again, the group has generously taken on the challenge of double casting the show. “We are featuring a cast with some of the shows being performed with youth leads, and some of the shows being performed with adult leads,” says Ms. Gamache. “For some of our youth leads, this is their first time in a lead role, or even their first time performing with us. Gabriella Catenaro, our youth Scarecrow is brand new to LP Stage Productions Inc.”

In the adult cast, Dorothy is played by Kristen Gamache, “who has always been heavily involved with choreography for our shows, and is now taking on a whole different role,” says Ms. Gamache. “Our youth cast Dorothy, is played by Claire Bouzane, who has been taking on this huge role with a very positive attitude and hard work ethic. It has been incredible to see the progress that these kids are making and how hard they are all working.”

Those who were lucky enough to catch LP Stage Production’s last production Spamalot, will recognize cast members from that show taking on roles in the Oz.

Jason Riedel, who did a hilarious job playing Arthur in Spamalot, takes on the role of the Lion in the adult cast of Oz; Chris Warzin, the adult Scarecrow, played Sir Galahad and Herbert in Spamalot, and Dale Lundy who played a delightful Patsy in Spamalot, now plays the adult Tinman in Oz.

Dale Lundy (the “L” in LP) is once again continuing his role as set designer, while Alison Port (the “P” in LP) is stage managing the show.

The youth witch is played by Hanah Hamilton, who, Ms. Gamache says, “has been involved in many of our LP productions.”

“Avery Smith and Emma Springer, playing the youth Tinman and youth Lion respectively, and are also no strangers to working with LP Stage Productions,” she says. “Kaylea Angus, who is the witch in the adult cast, was a part of LP Stage Productions’ Back to the 80s back in 2010. Our wizards are played by Brody Ireton for the youth cast and Jack Brooks for the adult cast. Sarah Alexander plays adult Glinda with lots of charm, as does our youth Glinda, Naomi Cameron.”

Ms. Gamache, who normally performs an on-stage role, says it is a very different experience to be directing other people and helping them explore their characters.

“You get so used to being a cast member and being told where to stand, what aspects of character to bring out, and getting feedback on how to enhance the performance, and now the roles are reversed,” she says. “Now I am the one who is providing such feedback and helping the cast to enhance their performance.

“This is a fun, feel-good show that will leave you singing the songs and feeling happy. We have schools coming from all over the Shelburne and surrounding area. The response has been incredible and the cast and team are very excited to bring this show to so many schools.”

The Wizard of Oz runs May 27, 28, and June 3 at 8 p.m. and May 29 and June 4 at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling Grace Tipling Hall, Shelburne or by going to Eventbrite on-line. Tickets range from $12-$15 and may also be purchased at the door.

By Marni Walsh