THE WIZARD OF OZ Celebrates 70 Years, STC & HCA Join To Celebrate 6/26, 6/27

This year, "The Wizard of Oz" celebrates 70 years of movie magic. To help mark the milestone, Stages Theatre Company (STC) and the Hopkins Center for the Arts (HCA) are collaborating to celebrate the history of this classic hit.

STC opens "The Wizard of Oz" Friday, June 26 at the Hopkins Center for the Arts. This production brings the familiarity from the motion picture to the stage as the Cowardly Lion, Tinman, Scarecrow and Dorothy (with Toto, too!) find the Emerald City while following "the yellow brick road."

The cast will perform at Toddler Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon at the Mall of America on July 7. Fans of the show can meet Actor Celia Forrest, Auntie Em, at The Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul on July 11 at 10:30 a.m. for a special reading of "The Wizard of Oz." A four-pack of tickets to the show will be given away at both events.

The HCA is housing a special art exhibit called "Oz" from June 27 through July 26. The art show will feature several, original L. Frank Baum books, which are on loan from the University of Minnesota, as well as, correspondence and illustrations from the Oz books. "This show really is a history of the Oz canon rather than a show of original artwork," says Susan Hanna-Bibus, Arts Coordinator.

This collaboration results from a strong relationship between the Hopkins Center for the Arts and Stages Theatre Company. "It is exciting each time we find a way to compliment each other's work artistically. This exhibit enhances the overall theatrical experience for families before and after the show," says Artistic Director Sandy Boren-Barrett. There is no admission to see the exhibit. Viewing hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m.

"The Wizard of Oz" opens Friday, June 26 and runs through Sunday, Aug. 2. To purchase tickets, please visit www.stagestheatre.org for performance dates and times, or call the box office at (952) 979-1111, Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $11 for children (ages 4-17) and seniors (60+). Lap passes are available for free (ages 0-2) and $5 for (ages 3-4). The show is recommended for all ages and is approximately 60 minutes in length.

Celebrating its 25th Anniversary Season, Stages Theatre Company was founded in 1984 and since then has grown to become one of the largest professional theatres for young audiences in the country. We engage young artists with production themes relevant to their lives and create works featuring young people in meaningful roles. Through theatrical productions, workshops, conservatory classes and other outreach programs, Stages Theatre Company annually serves more than 120,000 young people and their families.