FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  Cheryl Silver – 708-445-9173  

North Riverside Recreation Community Theater
Presents
The Wizard of Oz
Directed by Jay Fontanetta
Limited Engagement Opens April 27, 2007

Come See What’s Over the Rainbow

North Riverside, IL –Ruby slippers, witches and twisters, oh my! Hang on to your hat as North Riverside Recreation Community Theater’s (NRRCT) energetic production of The Wizard of Oz blows you right into the Emerald City.
           
The Royal Shakespeare Company’s version of The Wizard of Oz, adapted for the stage by John Kane, is remarkably similar to the famous 1939 film. The plot centers around Dorothy Gale, a farm girl from Kansas, who runs away from home after her guardians (Auntie Em and Uncle Henry) are unable to stop a pesky neighbor from confiscating Dorothy’s precious dog. A cyclone hits the farm as Dorothy returns home, and she gets knocked unconscious by flying debris. In her altered state, Dorothy visits the Land of Oz. She encounters good and bad witches, a scarecrow, a tinman, and a cowardly lion on her quest to find her way back to Kansas.

Danielle Aument, a 13-year-old from suburban Downers Grove, plays the coveted role of Dorothy. No stranger to the stage, Aument has been performing several roles at the American Girl Place Theater for the last four years. She also appeared in Tosca at Chicago’s Lyric Opera and the touring Broadway production of Evita when it came through Chicago. She also enjoys community theater (The Sound of Music, Seussical) and performs in her school (St Mary of Gostyn) productions as well. Aument is excited to tackle the role made famous by Judy Garland. “I want to make her my own character,” she said. “She has a lot of spunk and personality, but she’s also mature. That’s how I want to portray Dorothy.”

Director Jay Fontanetta says Aument conveys a sense of vulnerability that is integral to the role. He describes The Wizard of Oz as a universal “coming-of-age” story, where the main character, young Dorothy, must overcome obstacles in order to mature. A particular challenge with this show,” said Fontanetta, “is to deliver the show that everyone knows and loves while still making it unique and creating an Oz unlike any other.” Fontanetta calls The Wizard of Oz a classic story that appeals to audiences of all ages.

Fontanetta directed Grease for NRRCT’s 2006 spring show. Other directing credits include Lanford Wilson's The Rimers of Eldritch, Guys and Dolls, Pippin and Hair for Elmwood Park Community Theater, When You Comin’ Back Red Ryder and the Midwest premiere of Frank Pugliese's Aven'U Boys for Circle Theatre, Buried Child for Wright College, The Marriage of Bette and Boo for Columbia College, and A Midsummer Night's Dream for Elmwood Park high school. He is a member of the Illinois Theatre Association and a frequent contributor to the Illinois High School Theatre Festival.

The cast includes Courtney O'Meara from Arlington Heights, Kathy Capello from Batavia, Amara Gonzalez, Becky McDonald, Carisa Gonzalez, Colleen Lee, Ian McDonald, Josephine Tucci, Mark Venckus, Ricky Quintana, and Tricia Ebersold from Berwyn, Dino DeBenedictis from Bloomingdale, Alyssa Ray and Katelyn Smith from Broadview, Allison Hornung, Barb Molina, Jane McLaren, Krissy Muscarello, Lucia Adami, and Miranda Molina from Brookfield, Adam Fontanetta, Cathy Sorenson, Heather Breo, and Michael Kingdollar from Chicago, Diana Soriano, Hillary Davis, Lavell Cole, and Mary Gomez from Cicero, Laura Packeviciute from Darien, Danielle Aument from Downers Grove, John Ernst and Kim Jargstorf from LaGrange, Benny Affetto from Melrose Park, Brian Ott from Naperville, Angelica Landa, Bridget Halvey, Bryant Rouleau, Dana Richardson, Emylee Zdarsky, Jacqueline Sprague, Jason R Czajka, Joshua Czajka, Kaitlyn Cicenas, Kellie Halvey, Lizzy Behrendt, Lucy Roudebush, Olivia Landa, Sarah Wozniak and Tierney Duffy from North Riverside, Cheryl Silver, Jaime Sandoval and Siobhan Sandoval from Oak Park, Angelina Urtis, Colin Hughes, Diane S Kelley, Erin Lattner, Grace Cronin, Grace Lattner, Isabel Hughes, Jessica Van Winkle, Katie O'Connell, and Sophia Urtis from Riverside, Lauren Lavorini from Villa Park, and Carolyn Webber from Westchester.

The production staff includes Director Jay Fontanetta from Elk Grove, Music Director Michael Barr and Choreographer Ty Perry from Chicago, Artistic Director Diane S. Kelley from Riverside, Set Designer Dave Omelka from LaGrange, and Producer Al Meyer, Stage Manager Frank M. Petrovic, and Children’s Chorus Coordinator Terri Gustafson from North Riverside.

The Wizard of Oz opens on Friday, April 27th and continues through Sunday, May 6th at the North Riverside Village Commons located at 2401 S. Des Plaines Avenue, North Riverside, Illinois. Performances will be Fridays at 7:30pm, Saturdays at 2:00pm and 7:30pm and Sundays at 2:00pm. Ticket prices are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and students with ID, and $7 for children under 12.  Group rates are also available. For tickets, call Terri at 708-447-1297.

The North Riverside Recreation Community Theater (www.nrrct.com) is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1989 with the goal of expanding appreciation of the arts by presenting quality theater at affordable prices.  Since its inception, the group has produced 30 shows, ranging from time-honored classics such as Hello, Dolly! and The Music Man, to modern shows such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Little Shop of Horrors, to six original scripts written by NRRCT members. NRRCT's 2004 production of the hilarious Moon over Buffalo by Ken Ludwig is now playing at Theater Building Chicago. Go to www.glitteratiproductions.com or Ticketmaster for information.