Photo Flash: Theatre at the Center Opens THE WIZ!

The Broadway smash hit musical THE WIZ, with book by William F. Brown and music by Charlie Smalls, will blow audiences away through August 7, 2011 at Theatre at the Center, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana. The production will open Sunday, July 10 at 7 p.m. Stacey Flaster will direct and choreograph. THE WIZ first opened on Broadway in 1975 and ran for four years (1600 performances). It made a historic footprint as the first large-scale big-budget musical featuring an all-African American cast. THE WIZ won seven Tony Awards including Best Musical and was produced in 1978 by Motown/Universal as a film starring Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Lena Horne, and Richard Pryor.

The cast of THE WIZ will be led by powerhouse performer Felicia Fields as "Evillene". Fields is Tony Award Nominee for Best Featured Actress in Broadway's THE COLOR PURPLE, also earning her a 2006 Theatre World Award, a Clarence Derwent Award, two Broadway.com awards, an NAACP nomination and a Denver Post Ovation Award. Fields was a 2006 Drama League honoree. The cast also stars James Earl Jones II as "The Lion" and "Uncle Henry" (SPAMALOT and RAGTIME at Drury Lane Theatre), Dwelvan David as "The Wiz" (Drury Lane Theatre's RAGTIME) and Adrianna Parson as "Dorothy" (Black Theatre Alliance award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her role in AIDA at Bailiwick, also appeared in AIDA at Drury Lane Theatre and A CHORUS LINE at Marriott Theatre).

Jesse Dean Stanford stars as "Tinman", Darius Colquitt as "Scarecrow", Alexis J. Rogers as "Addaperle", Candace C. Edwards as "Glinda" and "Aunt Em", Vasily Deris as "Winged Monkey" and ensemble members N'jameh Camara, Chris Carter, Reneisha Jone'ne Jenkins, Joelle Lamarre, Jaymes Osborne, Rebecca Pink, John Pierce Taylor and Marlon Washington.

The Artistic Team, supporting Director and Choreographer Stacey Flaster and Associate Director Kyle Dougan, is led by Artistic Director William Pullinsi with Musical Direction by William Underwood. Chris Carter is the assistant to the Choreographer. The design team for THE WIZ is Set Designer Bill Bartelt, Lighting Designer Tim Fandrei, Sound Designer Barry G. Funderburg, Costume Designer Brenda Winstead, Wardrobe Supervisor Greta Humphrey, Wig Designer Kevin Barthel, Puppet Designer MerEdith Miller and Props Designer Libby Fandrei. The Stage Manager is John Grant-Phillips, the Assistant Stage Manager is Erin Elle East and the Technical Director is Ann Davis.

After celebrating the demise of the Wicked Witch of the East with the Munchkins, THE WIZ follows Dorothy as her and Toto "ease on down" the yellow brick road to the Emerald City. Along the way she encounters a hip Scarecrow, an uptight Tin Man and a mama's-boy Lion. Together they seek help from the powerful Wizard, who turns out to be a phony. Dorothy's adventures in the Land of Oz have been set in a dazzling, lively mixture of rock, gospel and soul music. Time Magazine raves THE WIZ is "a carnival of fun... a wickedly amusing show".

Founded in 1991, Theatre at the Center is a year-round professional theater at its home, The Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana. Theatre at the Center is Located off I-80/94, just 35 minutes from downtown Chicago, and has free parking.

Performances are Wednesdays and Thursdays at 2:00 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m.; Sundays at 2:30 p.m.; and select Thursday evening and Saturday matinees. Individual ticket prices range from $36 - $40. To purchase individual tickets call the Box Office at 219.836.3255 or Tickets.com at 800.511.1552 . Group discounts are available for groups of 11 or more and gift certificates, perfect for all special occasions, are also available by calling the Box Office at 219.836.3255 . For more information on Theatre at the Center, visit TheatreAtTheCenter.com.