Musical “OZ!” coming to Ratsch Theater

BRANCHVILLE—This year, parents and munchkins (of the human sort) the world over to mark the 150th birthday of L. Frank Baum, author of the children’s classic, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” As a local tribute, Little Lost Arts presents “OZ!,” a musical for families, at the Ratsch Theater, 6 Broad St. in Branchville, from Aug. 18-27. Written by Tim Kelly, with a modern score by Bill Francouer, “OZ!” keeps to the classic storyline of Dorothy, the girl from Kansas, who gets caught up in a tornado, trapped inside the magical land of Oz, and, in searching for home, finds her true self. Directed by Sheri Flannery-Verrilli, the cast, part of Little Lost Arts Summer Stock Theater, are all Sussex County residents, with Liz Poles as “Dorothy,” Amanda Bridges as “Scarecrow,” Paige Dunlap as “Toto,” Brian Festa as “Cowardly Lion,” Micael-Anne Verrilli as “Tinman,” Kellen Wittrien as the “Wicked Witch,” and including Bea Cannavale, Justine Collins, Sashal Hagan, Shannon Havens, Matt Morville, Michelle Festa, Liah Paterson, Madison Hooker, Brandon Bird, Christopher Morville, and Samantha Havens. Evening performances at 7:30 p.m. are on Fridays and Saturdays, Aug. 18, 19, 25, and 26. There are two Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. on Aug. 20 and 27. Advance tickets are recommended for this fifty-seat venue. General admission tickets are $12 for teens/adults, and $10 for children, ages 4-12. (No children under four, please.) For further information, visit www.littlelostarts.com, or call 875-5111.