The Wizard of Oz ideal holiday fare for the entire family
StoryBook produces stellar shows without federal funding or corporate sponsors
My high school math teacher never seemed to tire of reminding us that numbers do not lie. This was his motto around report card time when we’d try to challenge our marks. Our averages rarely jived with his.
I was reminded of my pitiful math scores recently while reading my program at StoryBook Theatre’s production of The Wizard of Oz. It included several “By the Numbers” lists.
The first detailed how 45,001 people attended StoryBook shows last year and that 2,205 of those people had received tickets for doing volunteer work. Another 1,358 people were given free tickets.
It was this number that caught my eye, so I corralled StoryBook’s artistic director, JP Thibodeau, to ask him about it.
“We get more than 3,000 requests each year for free tickets,” he said.
“Some of those are from groups holding silent auctions and want them to raise money, but the bulk of the requests come from families who want their children to be able to attend live theatre but simply can’t afford to take them,” says Thibodeau.
“We also get numerous requests from teachers who feel some of their students deserve to see live theatre but know their families are struggling.”
A number not included in the list in the program was the $30,000 StoryBook has already allocated for free tickets in the past five months.
It will cost StoryBook Theatre $1.1 million to produce the 14 shows in its current season and Thibodeau stresses “we can make that budget work with ticket sales, proceeds from our two fundraisers, the $85,000 we received from the provincial government, the $20,000 from the city and the $12,000 we received this year from 21 private donations.”
There were two glaring zeros in the number chart. StoryBook receives no federal funding or corporate funding.
My theory is no one from Ottawa or from local businesses has seen a StoryBook show or that would be rectified immediately.
Despite its limited budgets, StoryBook continues to produce outstanding family fare. Its current production of L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz is proof positive.
StoryBook enlisted Mark Bellamy to direct it and he has done so with his trademark inventiveness.
Bellamy has trimmed the cast down to 11 members and it certainly adds to the fun with Thomas Zima, Janos Zeller, Nicole Heide, Riley Galarneau and Cassie Doane whipping in and out of costumes and characters to play Munchkins one moment and flying monkeys, crows, apple trees or Winkie guards the next.
Rebecca Toon’s costumes and Cat Bentley’s wigs are an absolute delight, especially for Dorothy (Katie McMillian), Scarecrow (Ethan Taylor), Tin Man (Ryan Maschke), Cowardly Lion (Nic Chamberlain) and Glinda the Good Witch (Jamie Robinson).
Breaking with tradition, Laura Solilo’s Wicked Witch of the West is not some hideous hag but a glamorous Disney-style villain.
Through its summer intensive programs, StoryBook has nurtured performers like Maschke, McMillian and Taylor, who are a credit not just to the instructors and directors who guided them, but themselves for the level of professionalism they’ve attained.
The numbers on the third chart in StoryBook’s program explains that this past season alone StoryBook tutored 2,018 students in its year-round drama school and has provided 82 free classes to students with promising ability but limited means.
I wager there’s probably a few Maschkes, McMillians and Taylors among them.
The good news I can report having seen Bellamy’s The Wizard of Oz is that it is ideal holiday fare for the whole family.
The bad news is it’s virtually sold out and has been since the beginning of November.
StoryBook accepts donations year-round for its Ellie Tims Project, which helps fund voice, dance and acting classes for deserving students. Check out the website at storybooktheatre. org especially if you are feeling charitable during this holiday season.
Your gift will help StoryBook work its magic.