Chattanooga Times Free Press - ChattanoogaNow
Dorothy and company are in 'The Wizard of Oz' this weekend at the Tivoli. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
Dorothy Gale will find there’s no place like the Tivoli Theatre when the national touring company of “The Wizard of Oz” opens here Friday night, Oct. 19.
Kalie Kaimann stars as the young girl who is transported by tornado from Kansas to the fanciful, magical land of Oz and must find her way home again. Kaimann said in a telephone interview that this stage production of the 1939 MGM movie that starred Judy Garland stays as true to the original as possible.
All the expected songs, such as “Over the Rainbow,” are included, but the stage production includes a couple of extra musical elements not seen in the movie.
“The Scarecrow has an intro he sings with the crows, and Tin Man sings with the trees in his intro,” she describes.
Climatic lines such as, “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore,” and “Lions and tigers and bears! Oh, my!” will touch a nostalgic note with audience members.
And of course there are magical stage effects worthy of any witch or wizard. The monkeys fly, the wicked witch flies and Glinda the Good Witch will float onstage in a beautiful pink bubble. Costuming is colorful and lavish, which enhances the exciting choreography by Amy Marie McCleary, who also choreographed the national tours of “Hairspray,” “White Christmas,” “Sister Act,” “9 to 5” and “Spamalot.”
Kaimann says she grew up listening to music, did her first musical at age 8 playing a balloon girl in “Gypsy” and she was hooked.
She has played Bonnie in “Anything Goes,” Millie in “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” Sandy in “Grease” and Belle in “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.”
“I did music in school, took voice lessons, took dance. I went to Xavier for one year then went to New York City to audition for this show. This is the second leg of the tour.”
Kaimann says she’s part of a very talented cast and believes their bond is what sets this production of “The Wizard of Oz” apart from others.
“We have great chemistry onstage. A lot of us have toured together for quite a while. I think the audience will see that relationship,” she says. And that closeness extends to her little dog, too.
“Toto is played by Murphy. He’s very chill, but we did do a lot of bonding. I spent the first couple weeks of work with him. His mom is the tour’s music conductor and his dad is in the ensemble, so they travel with him.”
Kaimann says “The Wizard of Oz” is great family entertainment. Although t he Wicked Witch and her flying monkeys can be frightening to young elementary schoolchildren, the actress reassures parents: “If they can handle the Judy Garland version of ‘Wizard of Oz,’ they will enjoy this.”