P.O. Box 4511, Lancaster, PA 17604-4511
CONTACT: Carolyn Trythall, 717-569-0955, email: rtrythall@aol.com
March 16, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
"The Wizard
of Oz" Comes to
Life
LANCASTER, PA – The coming of
spring in Lancaster signals the approach of a local
tradition – the Ballet Theater of Lancaster’s Annual Spring
Performance. This year for the first time, the spring
performance will be held at Franklin & Marshall’s
Roschel Performing Arts Center.
For the past 13 years, many beloved characters have been
brought to life by the dancers of the Ballet Theater of
Lancaster and this year is no exception. You definitely
want to see this year’s performance of “The Wizard of Oz,”
the classic story by L. Frank Baum, choreographed by Gay
Porter of the Charlotte Youth Ballet. Ballet Theater of
Lancaster (BTL) members are rehearsing with young dancers
from area ballet schools, working to bring your favorite
characters from this classic book to life. BTL is known for
their story ballets and most importantly, their emphasis on
dancing classical ballet.
In “The Wizard of Oz,” our heroine, little Dorothy Gale of
Kansas, like so many girls her age, dreams of what lies
over the rainbow. The part of Dorothy will be danced by
Nicole Lyons. Nicole attended the Pennsylvania Governor’s
School for the Arts this past summer as a dance major and
is a senior at Penn Manor High School. Kristen Davies, a
junior at Warwick High School, will be dancing the part of
the Tin Man, and Whitney Shumaker, a junior at Manheim
Central High School, will be portraying the Lion. Finally,
the part of the Scarecrow will be danced by Danielle
D’Agostino, an eighth grader at Our Mother of Perpetual
Help School in Ephrata. These young dancers, in addition to
dancing in BTL shows over the years, have also been active
volunteers in their local communities and school fine arts
performances.
Dancing with Dorothy and her entourage on the journey down
the yellow brick road, will be a cast of almost fifty,
which includes BTL members and community youth ballet
dancers. These delightful characters include Munchkins,
Winkies, Poppies, Winged Monkeys, and of course, the Wizard
of Oz, Glinda, and the Wicked Witch of the West. Highlights
of the ballet will include Dorothy’s vision of the Rainbow
and the Dancing Poppy Field. Theses scenes come to life
through clever choreography, beautiful costumes and
exciting classical ballet!
Public performances of “The Wizard of Oz” will be held on
Saturday, May 5 at 10:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, May
6 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $12 for students and seniors in
all seating and $16 for adults. A specially priced
performance for schools will be held on Friday, May 4 at
9:45 a.m. For ticket reservations and information, please
call (717) 358-4858 or log on to www.ballettheateroflancaster.org
Created in 1992, Ballet Theater of Lancaster is the product
of a collaboration between Carolyn Trythall, BTL artistic
director, parents with advanced dancers who want to
continue dance studies locally, and community people who
want the area to have a classical ballet company. It’s
purpose is to bring classical ballet to the cultural life
of Lancaster County while providing advanced dance
education to young people. BTL is a non-profit with 501(c)3
status and is managed by a local board of directors.
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