Click Your Heels And The Link For Tickets, Then See "Wizard"

Pay much attention to the people behind the curtain!

Erm, no. Wait, got it!

Follow the yellow brick road … to The Growing Stage. (Note: A yellow brick road may or may not actually get you to the theater; your best bet is to instead find driving directions here).

Trying again ...

Your head you may be scratchin', but your hands would be a-clappin' ... if you only had a pair ofreasonably priced tickets.

Look: At this point, every cutsey, silly and outright cliched line has been written about the "Wizard of Oz." Journalists have mined quote after quote for lighthearted ways to introduce their stories. It's been done to death.

Ding, dong, the cliches are dead ... OKAY, OKAY, we'll stop!

There's a reason the same things have been said so many times about the "Wizard of Oz." Its story has touched generation after generation, so it has been revisited in theatrical production after theatrical production. It's tradition. And unlike the goofy story introductions, the play never seems to get old.

That's particularly true at the The Growing Stage in Netcong, where the Wizard will come to life Feb. 4 through 27.

The adaptation, which was premiered by Royal Shakespeare Company in the 1980s, is a regular part of Growing Stage’s rotation, showing up every five years or so. Stephen L. Fredericks, Growing Stage’s founder and executive director, is directing. He called it one of the children’s theater group’s “signature pieces,” and said this is an appropriate year to bring it back because the company is celebrating the 15th anniversary of the re-opening of the Palace Theater.

The adaptation is noteworthy because it so closely follows the 1939 movie starring Judy Garland, Ray Bolger and Jack Haley, and even includes songs that were cut from the film, he said.

Some things you probably didn't see on screen:  a jitterbug song, crows that sing along with the scarecrow and the apple tress crooning with the tin man. 

“This piece is also so special because it’s something that’s multi-generational,” Fredericks said. “Grandparents and adults and young people all have special memories about the “Wizard of Oz” from when they were first introduced to it, and that’s what I think makes it so special for us to perform this piece.”

The show’s cast feature Equity performers, including Lyndsey Brown as Dorothy, Robert Mintz as the Scarecrow, Ryan Malyar as the Tin Woodsman and Jeffrey Higgins as the Cowardly Lion. Some of these performers have ties to Growing Stage, including Mintz, who, Fredericks said, “grew up in our theater.”

“He used to come to summer camps and do performances here as a young person, went off to college and has now returned as an Equity artist,” Fredericks said. “It’s very exciting to see that take place.”

Doing a particular show again is advantageous because there are things Fredericks knows will work, but part of the goal for the cast and crew is to discover new things.

“We do have some set formulas to make some of the theater magic take place,” Fredericks said. “With our growing development as an Equity theater, we’ve been able to expand the talent as our theater itself has grown, and as we’ve continued to renovate and restore the theater here, it’s giving us more technical opportunities that we didn’t have with previous shows. So it still evolves and gets better each time. I think that’s what we’ve able to add to it, add another layer to it each time we’ve presented the show.”

Growing Stage Theater will present the “Wizard of Oz” at the Historic Palace Theatre, 7 Ledgewood Ave., Netcong, Feb. 4 to 27. Tickets cost $16, $12 for children and seniors. Call 973-347-4946 for reservations, and see  growingstage.goes.com for more information.

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Auditions Alert, “Steel Magnolias:” Villagers Theatre in Somerset will hold auditions for “Steel Magnolias” Jan. 24 and 25 at 7 p.m. (callbacks will be Jan. 27). Director Ana Kalet is seeking six female actors for roles ranging in their early 20s to early 60s. Sides from the script will be available. For information, contact Producer Roz Wroblewski atroz@villagerstheatre.com.

Auditions Alert, "Wicked Moon:" 4th Wall Theatre in Bloomfield will hold open auditions for a workshop of “Wicked Moon,” a new musical, Jan. 24 to 25, 7 p.m. at the Westminster Arts Center, 449 Franklin St., Bloomfield. Sign-up starts at 6:30 p.m. Callbacks are on Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. Performances will be March 10 to 12. A complete character breakdown and more information are available at: www.4thwalltheatre.org/shows/audition.html.

Getting Nice and Naughty at the : A gay movie star, a male prostitute and his girlfriend, and a ruthless Hollywood agent take center stage in "The Little Dog Laughed" at the Bickford Theatre in Morris Township until Feb. 13. The comedy by Douglas Carter Beane ran in New York both off-Broadway and on Broadway in 2006, and received a Tony nomination for Best Play. In the play, actor Mitchell Green is poised to become a Hollywood star, but is determined to come out of the closet, leading Diane, his agent, to do whatever it takes to keep him there. The production stars Liz Zazzi, Mark Irish, Scott Tyler and Cynthia Fernandez. Eric Hafen directs. For ticket information, call 973-971-3706 or go to the theater’s website. Also, see our full story on it here.

Who's Up for Bridge? The Somerset Valley Players will produce "The Octette Bridge Club" through Jan. 30 at the theater, located at 689 Amwell Road in Hillsborough. The play, set in Rhode Island, focuses on eight sisters who meet to play bridge and gossip. It starts off in 1934, then jumps ahead 10 years for the second act. Tickets are $17 for adults and $15 for seniors or students. See here for more information and to purchase tickets.

How Do You Spell Quirky? The "25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" is continuing at the  through Feb. 13. From the theater's description, it's the story of "six quirky competitors and three oddball adults in search of spelling bee glory." It's a musical that tells its audience, "If you like to laugh, if you like to spell, you'll like this competition very well."

Comedy and "Cats:"  There’s something for everyone at the . Jan. 28 is “Manhattan Comedy Night,” featuring Warren Holstein, Godfrey, Jesse Joyce, Ted Alexandro and DF Sweedler. Performances will contain strong language and mature themes. Tickets cost $25. Rum Tum Tugger, Bustopher Jones and other theatrical felines will all take stage when Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats” comes to the Mayo Center, Jan. 29 to 30. This national tour is the only North American production sanctioned by Webber, and recently celebrated its 27th anniversary season. Based on T.S. Eliot’s “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,” the musical is the second-longest running show in Broadway history, running from 1982 to 2000. Performances are Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $57-$87.

I Don't Know Art, But I Know It's A Play:  in Montville will stage "Art," Written by Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton through Saturday, Jan. 29. From the theater's description: "How much would you pay for a white painting? Would it matter who the painter was? Would it be art? These are the questions that confront Marc, Serge and Yvan as they contemplate Serge's latest art purchase. As these three longtime friends square off over the merits of the painting, their differences in opinion provoke a critique of a more personal nature. Friendships are tested, and the aftermath challenges the strength of those bonds, and affirms the power of art." See here for ticket information.

What a Pippin: Villagers Theatre in Somerset will present the Tony-award winning musical “Pippin” Feb. 4 to 20. The show tells the story of a young prince, named Pippin, who sees the secret of happiness and fulfillment, through war, temptations and politics, and then through home and family. The show debuted on Broadway in 1972, running until 1977. The show’s music is by Stephen Schwartz (“Godspell,” “Wicked”) and was originally directed by Bob Fosse.  Corey Rubel will direct Villagers’ “Pippin,” with choreography by Jillian Kimberlin and musical direction by David Regner. Tickets cost $18, $16 for seniors and students. The show contains mature subject matter recommended for audiences 16 and over. For ticket information, call 732-873-2710; www.villagerstheatre.com

G.O. See H.M.S.: On Feb. 4, the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players will bring Gilbert and Sullivan’s “H.M.S. Pinafore” to the . The operetta is the legendary duo’s first major success story about forbidden love among the social classes of British society and the Royal Navy. The 8 p.m. performance will be preceded by a lecture at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $37-$62.

Happy Birthday, Sweet 16: Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre in South Orange is celebrating its Sweet 16 with a benefit gala Feb. 5, from 7 to 10:30 p.m. All tickets include drinks, hors d’oeuvres, a cabaret-style show, dinner, dancing and a silent auction. Benefactor tickets cost $300 and include a season pass for the 2011-2012 season, Leader tickets cost $200 and include two tickets to Dreamcatcher’s next show, “Distracted.” Patron tickets cost $100 for the gala only. The gala benefit takes place in Barnwell Hall at Christ Church, 561 Springfield Avenue, Summit. For information, go to www.dreamcatcherrep.org/gala.html

Here’s the Proof: Nutley Little Theatre will stage “Proof,” David Auburn’s 2001 Tony winner for Best Play, Feb. 11 to 26. The Feb. 11 performance is a benefit performance for the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson and Union counties. Tickets cost $15, $13 seniors/students. For tickets and information, go to www.nutleylittletheatre.com.

"The World Goes Round," You Go To Parsippany: The Women's Theater Company in Parsippany will produce "And The World Goes Round, The Songs of Kander and Ebb" in February. The revue features songs from "Cabaret," "Chicago," "Funny Lady," "Kiss Of The Spiderwoman" and other Broadway hits. Performances are Feb. 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27. Friday and Saturday performances are 8 p.m. Sundays are 3 p.m. The show is at the , 1140 Knoll Road, Lake Hiawatha. Tickets are $18, $15 for seniors and $12 for students. Call 973-316-3033 or e-mail info@womenstheater.org.

Audition Alert, “Take Me Out:” Nutley Little Theatre is holding auditions for Richard Greenberg’s “Take Me Out” at the theater’s Barn, 47 Erie Place, Nutley, Feb. 13 and 14. The play is about Darren Lemming, a star baseball player who mistakenly thinks he’ll be accepted when he comes out of closet. For information on roles, go towww.nutleylittletheatre.com or e-mail takemeoutnlt@gmail.com. (Some roles require nudity.) The play opens April 8 for a three-week run.

Make It Up As You Go: Actors can add to their skill set and non-actors can try something new through Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre’s Improvisational Comedy for Adults course. Starting Feb. 19, Lulu French, a visiting artist with experience in improv, will help students of all levels learn traditional improv games, explore their own creative side in a supportive environment, develop spontaneity, and learn how to shed inhibitions. The last class will allow students to invite friends and family members to a showcase performance.  The class is open to students 18 and older. Classes will be held Saturdays, Feb. 19 to April 23, 10 a.m. to noon at Dreamcatcher’s third-floor space at the Baird Center in South Orange. Registration is on a first-come, first-servved basis. Cost is $333; register by Jan. 31 and save 10 percent. For information, go towww.dreamcatcherrep.org/education.html or e-mail info@DreamcatcherRep.org.

It's Better Than Even Money: 's musical for this year will be "Guys and Dolls," March 10, 11 and 12 at 7 p.m.; a matinee will also be March 12 at 2 p.m. Shows are in the West Morris Central High School Auditorium. More information here. (Note: An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated the show would be "42nd Street, which the school performed a few years ago).

With a Banjo on His Knee: There’ll be nothing wild and crazy going on when Steve Martin comes to the . Tickets for his concert of bluegrass and banjo music will go on sale Jan. 28. The concert is June 28. Martin’s 2009 album, “The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo,” won the 2009 Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album. For information on all shows at the Mayo Center, go to www.mayoarts.org or call the box office at 973-539-8008.

Celebrating Young Talent: The Madison Young Playwrights Festival will soon be taking reservations. It's a day-long festival celebrating work written by students in  Madison schools. Watch this space for more information.

Do You Have A Jersey Voice? The  group is seeking original, one-act plays, short musicals or original dance pieces, written by New Jersey authors, for the 17th annual "Jersey Voices." Play submissions of any genre, style and length up to 20 minutes maximum running time will be accepted through March 15. E-mail submissions in Microsoft Word or PDF format to: jerseyvoices@chathamplayers.org. For more information on the festival itself, see here.

Shakespeare Theatre Season to Include Othello, To Kill A Mockingbird and A Christmas Carol: The  recently announced its 2011 season, which will kick off with Moliere’s "The Misanthrope," directed by Artistic Director Bonnie J. Monte, June 1 through 26. The theater’s annual outdoor show, staged at the Greek Amphitheater at the  will be "A Midsummer’s Night Dream," June 22 through July 31. A lesser-known Bard play, "Timon of Athens," will continue the season at the Main Stage, in F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre on the campus of , July 6-24. Next up is Noward Coward’s "Fallen Angels," Aug. 3-28.  Autumn will see Iago, perhaps Shakespeare’s most vicious villain, come to life in "Othello," Sept. 7 through Oct. 2. Monte will direct the Shakespeare Theater’s first staging of the tragedy since 2003. Middle school and high school students are sure to want to see Christopher Sergel’s adaptation of "To Kill a Mockingbird" Oct. 12 through Nov. 20—but  they still have to read the book. The season will close with the return of Neil Bartlett’s adaptation of "A Christmas Carol" (which the Shakespeare Theatre first staged in 2007), Dec. 1 through Jan. 1. For more on the full season and ticket information, .

Get Schooled: The educational touring wing of The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Shakespeare LIVE!, presents abridged productions of the Bard's work that keeps Shakespeare's language intact. It's offering A Midsummer Night's Dream and Julius Caesar Feb. 8 to June 10. For more info and bookings, see here.

Got some news for On Stage? E-mail Louis@Patch.com.

Interested in a follow-up to this article?About this column: 'On Stage: A Peek At The Performing Arts' is a weekly look at what's going on in the world of theater, music and other performing arts. It runs Tuesdays.