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Doug Booher
Indiana University Auditorium
dbooher@indiana.edu
812-855-9529

Last modified: Thursday, October 29, 2009

Local kids star as Munchkins in upcoming IU Auditorium presentation of 'The Wizard of Oz'

WHAT: The Wizard of Oz
WHEN: Nov. 10 and 11, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: IU Auditorium, 1211 E. 7th St.
TICKETS: $19-$40 for children and IU Bloomington students with a valid student ID and $37-$59 for general public, on sale now. Individual tickets may be purchased online at IUauditorium.com, in person at the IU Auditorium Box Office, as well as through Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, or charge by phone at 800-745-3000. The IU Auditorium Box Office is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 29, 2009

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University Auditorium will present the family-friendly, multiple award winning Broadway production of The Wizard of Oz Nov. 10 and 11 at 7:30 p.m. Appearing in the show as Munchkins will be local school children from the Richland-Bean Blossom Community School Corporation's Edgewood Junior High School.

The Wizard of Oz

The Wizard of Oz

Print-Quality Photo

Both performances will feature a coloring contest and other projects and activities for the children in attendance in the IU Auditorium lobby prior to the show.

This production of the classic story of Dorothy's adventures in Oz is known for its high-tech special effects, including flying monkeys, color costumes and a video-projected tornado. In addition to the well-known songs "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," "If I Only Had a Brain" and "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead," the production also features three additional songs that were cut from the original film version.

"The Wizard of Oz is a spectacular production," said Doug Booher, director of IU Auditorium. "Audience members from ages 5 to 95 will love this magical treatment of a true American classic."

The Richland-Bean Blossom Community School Corporation has had a long tradition of choral music. Students begin singing and performing in kindergarten and are provided with a strong musical foundation throughout elementary school. Edgewood Junior High School has established concert choirs at every grade level, in addition to the award-winning show choir Mini Warehouse.

Munchkins

IU Auditorium's upcoming "Wizard of Oz" performance will feature some young local actors. Students from Edgewood Junior High School will play Munchkins in the production, which runs Nov. 10-11 with both shows starting at 7:30 p.m.

Print-Quality Photo

The Wizard of Oz was written by L. Frank Baum, with music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg, and adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company. The Chicago Stage Review wrote of the stage production, "This technicolor explosion of charm renders the film to the stage with all of the familiar characters, songs, scenes and a few extras for good measure."

Finch's Brasserie is offering free kids meals before both shows for those who show their tickets to Wizard of Oz as well as a special Ladies Night after the Tuesday performance. See www.finchsbrasserie.com for details.

Kids 10 and under can enter a coloring contest to win tickets to The Wizard of Oz at IU Auditorium. Entry forms are available on the B97 Web site, https://wbwb.com/ and all Southern Indiana Pediatrics locations. Coloring contest entries are due by Nov. 6 to Once Upon a Child, 3486 W. 3rd St., on Bloomington's west side. There will also be special children's activities in the IU Auditorium lobby at both performances.

The Wizard of Oz is sponsored by the IU Credit Union, Oliver Winery, Southern Indiana Pediatrics, LLC and Nature's Way, Inc. The IU Auditorium 2009-2010 season is presented by Curry Auto Center, B97, The Herald-Times, Indiana University Document Service Center, Indiana University Residential Programs and Services and Ivy Tech Community College.

More information on The Wizard of Oz and all shows on IU Auditorium's 2009-2010 season can be found at IUauditorium.com. The Web site features video clips and a selection of songs from this season's performances, in addition to podcasts and a direct link to the IU Auditorium Facebook Fan Page and Twitter, whose members receive exclusive benefits throughout the year.