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Off to see the Wizard
By Kulsoom Khan - Updated 05.15.12

Lions and tigers, and bears-oh my! The timeless classic "Wizard of Oz" will debut this week at The Music Box Dinner Playhouse. The show is co-sponsored by McDonald's. According to show Director, Dana Feigenblatt The Music Box has partnered with McDonald's for the last 31 years.

"It has been a great partnership and we have really enjoyed it," she says "It is a unique experience to present dinner theatre especially geared to what the children really enjoy." (Children attending will receive a McDonald's fun meal with their ticket.)

Feigenblatt has been infatuated with the "Wizard of Oz" since childhood, so making the decision to turn it into a theatrical production for The Music Box was not a difficult one for her. "It is my all-time favorite movie since I was a little girl and I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to make it come alive onstage," she says. Feigenblatt has been involved with The Music Box since 2003, performing in numerous productions with the company and also directed "The Wedding Singer" in 2011 and "The Full Monty" earlier this year. She is also the assistant director for The Music Box's children's workshops.

Her interest in theater developed at an early age when she performed in school plays, but she says the majority of her theater experience has come from performing at "The Music Box" over the last nine years. For those who may be unaware, the plot of the "Wizard of Oz" focuses on a young girl named Dorothy who along with her dog Toto somehow gets transported to the magical land of Oz after a tornado hits her hometown. She then sets on a journey to see the Wizard of Oz who everyone says can help her get back home. She meets some unforgettable friends and foes along the way.

Feigenblatt says the production is quite similar to the 1939 movie, "Wizard of Oz". There are over 10 songs that will be featured in the show, including "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", "We're Off To See The Wizard", and "Ding-Dong The Witch Is Dead". However, a couple original songs were written for the show as well.

She says the biggest difference from the movie is the length; it is geared for children so it has been shortened a bit. About picking actors for the lead roles, Feigenblatt says: "I have such a fantastic cast of actors! Casting is always a hard decision for any director to make but I tried to give everyone the roles that would suit them best."

She says that rehearsals for the show have been going well and anticipation for opening night is in full swing. "The cast has met every night for the last 2 weeks and has worked very hard to make this show come alive," Feigenblatt says. "They are really excited for opening day and I am very proud of all of them." She thinks that the "Wizard of Oz" is a show that all NEPA audiences will like. "I think people of all ages will enjoy the show because it such a classic," she says. "They will get to see a terrific show and get dinner on top of it".

All tickets are $12 per adult or child. Performance times are Friday, May 18th at 6p.m., Saturday the 19th at 1p.m. & 5p.m. and Sunday the 20th at 1p.m. Tickets are now on sale and may be purchased by calling the Box Office at 283-2195 or 800-698-PLAY. The Music Box is located at 196 Hughes Street in Swoyersville.