“THE WIZARD OF OZ,” PRESENTED BY HARLEM REPERTORY THEATRE AND YIP HARBURG FOUNDATION, EXTENDS THRU JANUARY 13, 2018.
It’s a jazzy stage rendition of the classic film musical.

Remaining performances of current run: December 2 and 16, 2017.   ADDED PERFORMANCE: January 13, 2018
ALL PERFORMANCES ARE AT 3:00 PM
$10 general admission; $20 premium seating.
Buy tickets on SMARTTIX
This production is recommended for ages 4 to 104.
Running time: 1 hour. (no intermission)

NEW YORK — “The Wizard of Oz,” presented by Harlem Repertory Theater (HRT) and Yip Harburg Foundation, will not close December 16.  It has been extended through January 13, 2018 due to continuing and steady audience interest.  The production has played since October 8, 2016 at Tato Laviera Theatre, 240 East 123rd Street (near 2nd Ave.), Manhattan, and has previously been extended three times.

The classic musical is being mounted with a multi-racial cast, a jazzy underscore and authoritative dramaturgy by representatives of the Yip Harburg Foundation.  Director/choreographer is Keith Lee Grant, Artistic Director of Harlem Rep, who is in the midst of a four-year project of presenting classic musicals that have lyrics by E.Y. “Yip” Harburg.

As of the end of this extension, on January 13, “The Wizard of Oz” will have played 37 performances.

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
“The Wizard of Oz,” with its timeless score and eternal allegories, is a magical experience for young (and young-at-heart) audiences. Based on MGM’s classic motion picture, the stage version mounted here follows John Kane’s adaptation for the Royal Shakespeare Company, which is based on the book by L. Frank Baum, with brilliant songs by lyricist E.Y. (“Yip”) Harburg and composer Harold Arlen.

Thanks to work of dramaturg Deena R. Harburg, President and Artistic Director of the Yip Harburg Foundation, in association with acclaimed librettist Arthur Perlman, New York audiences have a chance to see the show sharpened to more of the original vision of E.Y. “Yip” Harburg, who was an unashamedly progressive thinker. The cast is multi-racial and features Latino, Black and Asian actors, fulfilling Yip’s vision of a multicultural universe. Dorothy, played by Taylor-Rey Rivera, is interpreted as a modern girl and future leader who is growing to realize the confidence she possesses. Her three Land-of-Oz friends–the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion–are envisioned as people of great potential who only need to actualize the heart, brains and courage they already have. One of the story’s themes is how the weakness of adults forces children to seize their own destinies and, ironically, to grow up themselves. According to Ernie Harburg, Yip’s son and Founding President (Emeritus) of the Yip Harburg Foundation, Yip wanted to address Dorothy finally going home as a leader. At Harlem Rep, Dorothy will come home to lead the rebuilding of her family’s farm. All the “refocusing” is accomplished through the acting of the characters, without changing the iconic dialogue of the script.