The Wizard of Oz brought to the stage in Moray
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ARE you off to see the wonderful Wizard of Oz?
Elgin Musical Theatre (EMT) is back with a bang and excited to open tonight (Wednesday, March 2) with its first production in two years.
Taking the 1939 film classic as its inspiration, the EMT version has been in the planning since last August.
Young Dorothy Gale is swept away by a tornado from her Kansas farm to the magical land of Oz. There, she encounters a host of wonderful characters - good witches, bad witches, animals that talk, scarecrows that walk, and things that will amaze and entertain.
Secretary Leigh Robertson said: "We are so excited. Everyone is buzzing to be back on the stage."
Leigh, who plays the Wizard and Professor Marvel, admitted it has been a long road from the first lockdown in March 2020 to now.
"This is our first show in two years. Lockdown came in 10 days after our last show, Betty Blue Eyes," she said.
The cast and production team started rehearsals last August and have worked around all the restrictions, with online rehearsals, small scale rehearsals and for the first time this week, a full scale dress rehearsal on stage.
A lot of new members have joined the cast and backroom team in the last year, and Leigh said everyone is delighted to be back performing and looking forward to the five performances of Wizard of Oz.
And Leigh, who has been acting for over 30 years, promised some new technological innovations which will add to the audience experience.
"We would perform to just one person we are so excited. People can travel to Aberdeen or Inverness to see professional shows, but we feel we have upped the ante this year."
Curtain up is tonight at 7.30pm and the show is on every night from Wednesday to Saturday, and there is also a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm.
Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/elginmusicaltheatre/the-wizard-of-oz/e-ojdamj but are also available at the door.
Tickets are priced £15 and £12 for children under 12.
EMT has already announced its show for 2023 and it will be Sunshine on Leith.
"We tried to do it a few years ago but didn't feel we had the casting capacity but we have about 50 per cent more members now," added Leigh.
