PRODUCTION NEWS!
Our news below is organized by the latest to the oldest.
Photos can be found below each post's text.
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We want everyone to feel involved in our extravaganza! We hope to achieve this by keeping you up to date on everything show related.
Enjoy updates about The Kingdom of Dreams, A Tale of Oz. This section of our website is where we'll discuss cast, crew, how the production is getting along, share behind the scenes photos and more!
OPENING NIGHT IS ALMOST HERE!
August 5th, 2021
Top Right Photo: We have been rehearsing onstage at Parkland all week. This is from Tuesday night's run through.
Left Photo: Our witch, Elena Negruta, is scary enough to scare the crow right out of you!
Bottom Right Photo: These four will likely be the starts of the show. They are very feisty on set and are the perfect lackeys for the witch. The gargoyles will steal the show!
A CLOSER LOOK INTO REHEARSALS
July 23rd, 2021
The opening curtain goes up in two weeks and the cast and staff is feverishly fine-tuning, polishing, and honing the show. We have two more rehearsals in The First Wesleyan Church, Urbana, which has been our home since April. We cannot thank the people of this congregation enough for the use of their facility. A week from today, July 30, we begin moving into the Parkland College theatre. We will have two days of setting up the stage, arranging the lights, audio, etc. The curtain goes up Friday, August 6. We're hoping to see you for at least one of the four performances.
Top Image: Here is Nico, belting out a solo part he has in the opening number. Nico is a show stopper; you'll love seeing him in his role as Captain Hook..
Middle Image: A table full of various props that will be used in the show.
Bottom Image: A rehearsal of the Scarecrow being accosted by Pokey, Pushy, and Punch, the witch's gargoyles.
ALMOST SHOWTIME!
July 14th, 2021
Opening night is just around the corner and the cast and staff have moved to warp speed to ensure that all will be ready.
AJ and Bryan, our Tin Man and Scarecrow, rehearse their steps for the dance included in their number To the Kingdom!
The Act II ensemble, featuring Ashley Thopiah (ballerina with the Oakland Ballet), on the shoulder of the Wizard (Cam Sheets), rehearse the finish to Where Dreams Come True.
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Panta Loon, aka, Avery Olson, tries on her Brody helmet for size. The Loons were introduced in The Tin Woodman of Oz, which was published in 1918 and was the next-to-last Oz story L. Frank Baum wrote (Baum died in 1919). World War I ended in 1918, and John R. Neill, the illustrator, drew the Loons wearing the distinctive helmet of American soldiers in WW I.
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Music rehearsals, led by music director Heidi Beck, are honing the harmonies and solos of the seven original songs in the show: Welcome to Oz, After the Battle, To the Kingdom, Where Dreams Come True, Leaving the Dream, The Witch's Cackle, and Love Must Be.
MUSICAL PROGRESS
July 8th, 2021
Recent rehearsals have been dedicated to the show's music. There are seven original songs (be sure to go to the "Music" tab and listen to the Overture). Lyricists are Kenny Chumbley, Linda Washburn Staggs (Lt. Col, Army, ret.), and Angie Rouley. Composers are Angie Rouley, Sam Gingher, Caleb LIddell, and Benjamin Payne (Tampa, FL). Some of the music is quite challenging, but the ensemble has the voices to hit the chords. The show's music is going to stay with the audience long after the show has closed.
The staff is busily at work, and the show's success will be, in large part, due to the dedication, skill, and genius of the staff. Be sure to visit our "Staff" page and meet the behind-the-scenes expertise that is working hard to make the show a success.
THE MUSIC & DANCING OF THE KINGDOM OF DREAMS
July 1st, 2021
Top: Ensemble rehearsal, Sunday night. That’s Avery looking back to see what’s going on.
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Middle: Ensemble dancers take their positions around our special cast member, Ashley Thopiah, a professional ballerina with the Oakland Ballet, whose hometown is Champaign. There are many things in this show you will not want to miss, and Ashley’s dance is foremost among them.
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Bottom: Heidi Beck is an elite pianist and voice teacher. Here, she gives instruction during Monday ensemble voice rehearsal.
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FINAL MONTH OF REHEARSALS!
June 29th, 2021
As we leave June and enter the final full month of rehearsals, work on mastering the music has begun, as well as the fine-tuning of every scene in the show. A producer is only as good as the people around him, and I have been most fortunate to have a staff of dedicated and gifted artists/craftsmen. Their work with the cast has been exceptional.
Clara and Maria are gargoyles, the witch’s henchmen. They are not to be messed with; you will want to stay on their good side.
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Tom Adamek, who along with his wife Cindy, are a phenomenal husband-wife prop team. Tom here models some stylish headwear, while holding one of the spears that will be wielded by the gargoyles.
MAKING PROGRESS MUSICALLY & WITH THE WINKIE ARMY
June 24th, 2021
Music:
The original music for the seven songs in the show is now complete. Sheet music has been copied and distributed, and we will be placing a major emphasis on rehearsing the musical parts of the show in coming weeks. Here, (above photo) Kennedy Carico/Dorothy rehearses her song, Leaving the Dream (composed by Angie Rouley, lyrics by Kenny Chumbley and Angie Rouley) with music director Heidi Beck. It is going to be a showstopper!
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Winkie Army:
When this fiercesome force of witch hunters are in uniform, they will be seen to be the Winkie army and the Soldier with the Green Whiskers. L to R: Craig Krukewitt, Verniece Thurman, Jordan Rinkenberger, Summer Hollis, Cameron Sheets, and Kellyn Morber. This is not a group to be trifled with. (bottom photo)
FROM IDEA TO REALITY: THE GARGOYLE SPEARS
June 23rd, 2021
We have an extraordinary couple hard at work on props. Tom and Cindy Adamek are dedicated prop masters with an eye for detail. And they are economical—Tom’s goal is to make an outstanding prop as cheaply as possible. A sizable majority of the props he creates are made from materials he finds set out on the curb. Over the past few days, he has been at work on the gargoyle spears. They’ve not been painted or had the finishing touches applied to them, but even in this rudimentary form, they command respect!
PIROUETTINGÂ IN PROGRESS
June 18th, 2021
Just this week, we decided to add an exciting character in our play: Polychrome, the Rainbow's daughter. Polychrome appeared in several of the Oz books, and she is portrayed, at times, as a ballerina. Ashley Thopiah, a professional ballerina with the Oakland (CA) Ballet, will be dancing the role of Polychrome. You will not want to miss it!
SET PAINTING: MUNCKIN VILLAGE IS COMING TOGETHER
June 17th, 2021
Our set artist, Leslie Kimble, has begun work on our set. Here is a picture of the first panel depicting a Munchkin village at twilight.
TALKING WITH THE DIRECTOR:
June 16th, 2021
Talking with Chris Guyotte, director of The Kingdom of Dreams.
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Q. What has been the biggest challenge to directing The Kingdom of Dreams?
A. The biggest challenge has been the research I’ve had to do. Normally, I have six to twelve months to prepare for a show. This time, I have to research and give direction simultaneously. Fortunately, I had read all the Oz books; now I’m reacquainting myself with the world L. Frank Baum and Kenny Chumbley have given me.
Q. What have you enjoyed most about this project?
A. After a year of pandemic, being able to work with such a talented bunch of people is truly a godsend. Kenny’s enthusiasm is infectious. It’s also the first-ever production of The Kingdom of Dreams: A Tale of Oz and that can never be a world premier like we’re putting on.
BEHIND THE SCENES: THE CREATION OF THE KINGDOM OF DREAMS
June 10th, 2021
Pictured Top: Our set artist, Leslie Kimble, and the ten gallons of paint that will be used on the set. We were asked if we were getting ready to paint a house!
Pictured Bottom: Here is a snapshot of part of Leslie's pencil sketch of the scene to be painted on the flats that will comprise our set.
PRODUCTION IN FULL SWING
June 9th, 2021
Pictured Top: Chris (director) and Sheri (costumer) on the stage of the Harold and Jean Miner Theatre at Parkland College. Sheri is showing rich a gown that we may use for Glinda.
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Pictured Bottom: Our witch, Elena Negruta, rehearses The Witch's Dirge, accompanied by our music director, Heidi Beck.
SET CONSTRUCTION: IN PROGRESS
June 3rd, 2021
An extravaganza, such as The Kingdom of Dreams is meant to be, requires lavish sets, and the trick, with any theatrical production, is to make inexpensive sets that look lavish. We will attempt to do this with the sets we are building for the play.
For a model, we found some pictures on the Internet of a Broadway presentation of The Sound of Music. We liked this design for a set, and will attempt to adapt it for The Kingdom of Dreams.
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Stay tuned, next week, we'll upload some pictures of the sets being constructed.
LEARNING MORE ABOUT CAST & CREW
June 2, 2021
First item
Two of our younger cast members recently had starring roles in a local production of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Summer Hollis played the White Witch, and Zane Coulter played Edmund.
Second item
Heidi Beck, an outstanding pianist and vocalist and veteran of many stage shows, is our music director and accompanist. I recently asked her what gave her the greatest pleasure in her role as music director of a stage musical. Here's what she said:
"I love accompanying and making music with a partner or ensemble. In performance, a young musician might randomly jump from one place to another or totally change the rhythm, and I must gracefully find and follow them. But I love the challenge of always making the performer sound good!"
FROM IDEA TO REALITY: FIRST REHEARSAL
May 23rd, 2021
We had our first read through of the show!
The cast is as follows:
L. Frank Baum: Stephen Fiol
Prince Plump: Rodney Woodworth
Glinda: Wendy Marck
Witch/Translator: Elena Negruta
Scarecrow: Bryan Goode
Tin Man: A. J. Paramo
Soldier with the Green Whiskers/Wizard: Cameron Sheets
General Electric/Alice: Summer Hollis
Butler/General Motors/Ensemble: Craig Smith
Loon/Ensemble: Sierra Smith
King Bal Loon/Ensemble: Sam Gegg
Loon Captain/Cowardly Lion: John Tilford
Panta Loon: Avery Olson
Dub Loon: Jordan Rinkenberger
Footman/Captain Hook/Ensemble: Nico Perez-Jandrich
Dorothy: Kennedy Carico
Small WInkie/Ensemble: Kellyn Morber
Winkie army/Ensemble: Verniece Thurman
Private/Ensemble: Zane Coulter
Gargoyles: Anna Newman, Anya Coulter, Clara Lugardo, Maria Lugardo
Polychrome: Ashley Thopiah
FIRST TASTE OF OZ
April 26th, 2021
For 299 years, there has been no witch in Oz. Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion, being mortal, have passed away, but the Scarecrow and Tin Woodman, being straw and metal, remain.
But suddenly, the long peace Oz has enjoyed is shattered when a distant relative of the
Wicked Witch of the East and the Wicked Witch of the West appears, seeking revenge. When the Scarecrow and Tin Woodman try to stop her, she stops them.
With the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman incapable, and Dorothy and the Lion gone, who is there to save Oz this time?
-K.C.
