Variety Children’s Theatre to stage ‘Wizard of Oz’ at Touhill

Variety Children's Theatre will perform "The Wizard of Oz" Oct. 21-23 at the Touhill at UMSL.

Variety Children’s Theatre has combined resources from the entire St. Louis performing arts community, including professional actors and children of all abilities, for its third annual production of “The Wizard of Oz.”

The play will be performed at 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21, 1:30 and 7 p.m. Oct. 22 and 1:30 p.m. Oct. 23 in the Anheuser-Busch Performance Hall at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. Tony Award nominee Lara Teeter will direct the production.

From tryouts to production, Variety Children’s Theatre allows children to learn onstage and backstage production skills from seasoned professionals. The inclusive setting offers an opportunity to develop important relationships, skills sets and appreciation of the overall workings of a live musical theater program.

Seventeen Variety children are part of “The Wizard of Oz Cast” cast, with disabilities ranging from spina bifida and cerebral palsy to muscular dystrophy and down syndrome. In addition to the onstage talent, seven major roles in the production include a Variety “shadow,” allowing local children with disabilities to learn professional skills alongside the show’s production director, musical director, choreographer, stage manager, sound technician and costume designer.

The Touhill is on the North Campus at UMSL, 1 University Blvd. in St. Louis County (63121). Tickets are $15 to $35. Call 314-516-4949 or visit touhill.org to order tickets.

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