‘The Wizard of Oz’ set for summer youth production
COSHOCTON – Lynn Jacobs has always wanted to bring “The Wizard of Oz” to the Triple Locks Theater and this month his dream will come true.
He and Shelly Lillibridge are co-directing this Footlight Players summer youth production, which will be performed at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, July 20-22 and July 27-29 and at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 22 and July 29 and Sunday, July 30.
“There are 42 kids involved with this from ages 5 to 18,” Lillibridge said. “I enjoy watching the kids and seeing them get a handle on their characters.”
Wearing the ruby red slippers in the play as Dorothy is Amanda Kittel.
“’The Wizard of Oz’ has been a favorite movie of mine since I was little so this has been fun,” she said.
One of the actors following the yellow brick road with Kittel is Grant Cullison who plays the scarecrow.
“I’ve been in plays before that no one had any idea what they were so it’s nice to be in a recognizable one,” Cullison said. “The directors have been doing a good job of keeping it accurate to the movie and when people come they will see Coshocton faces in very similar roles that they know from the movie.”
The play has actually been a favorite of Jacobs since he was a child.
“I watch it at least once a year, but I’ve always been hesitant to bring it here because I thought it would never meet my expectations,” he said. “Shelly kept encouraging me to do it though and it’s going much better than expected.”
Jacobs said this is the sixth show he and Lillibridge have worked on together.
“Having co-directors doesn’t always work, but Shelly and I are like kindred spirits,” Jacobs said.
For more information, including tickets, visit www.footlightplayers.com. Tickets also can be ordered by calling 740-622-2959 from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 6 to 8 p.m. on performance days. The Triple Locks Theater is located on Hydraulic Avenue. Becky Jacobs is producer of the play.
“These kids are really good,” Lynn said. “They are a phenomenal group.”
Category: Arts & Entertainment, Multimedia, Photo Galleries
