The Wizard of Oz is coming to bergenPAC on July 26th, 27th and 28th. We spoke with the show’s director Diana Gonzalez-Morett and bergenPAC Performing Arts School Director, Becky Serico to learn more about this unforgettable show!
So many of us know and love The Wizard of Oz! What can we expect to see with this production?
This year marks the 85th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz, and we are thrilled to bring this classic to life on the bergenPAC stage with our young pre-professional performers. Expect to see all the memorable characters from this beloved story, but with our special twist.
Our production features a 19-piece orchestra led by our brilliant musical director, Glenn Gordon, and is bursting with a fusion of dance crafted by the talented Aurie Ceylon. Prepare to be transported by the visual art & puppetry design of Derrick Cross, lighting is by Justin Maria and the stars of our show our wonderful cast who will definitely warm your hearts.
How is it different than the original?
Our production honors this American classic while also flipping it on its head with moments of surrealism and innovative casting choices. These elements invite us to delve deeper into Dorothy’s journey of self-development and emphasizes women’s empowerment. Prepare to be enchanted and inspired as we bring wonder and charm to the stage.
This is your first full-scale production since coming out of the pandemic. Tell us more about that.
During the pandemic, we shifted all of our programs to online and when we slowly came back in person, we had to rebuild many of our programs, including our summer musical. We are back better than ever, with enrollment numbers higher than before the pandemic! We are so excited to make our comeback with such a classic and family-oriented show as The Wizard of Oz! We cannot wait! The students sound amazing, and the directors and team are working so hard! It is sure to be pure magic at our performances July 26-28!
What was preparing for this show like?
From the very start of auditions, we have witnessed incredible talent, including several performers returning from past productions. It’s exciting to see talent blossom and our theater become an incubator for creativity and learning. It’s no wonder many of our performers go on to Broadway or the big screen. Our crew, passionate and inspiring in their own right, excels in stage management, costume design, and beyond.
Seasoned professionals, including bergenPAC Executive Director Alexander Diaz and Director of Production Joe Feola, are also dedicating their time and expertise to this production, from being the Voice of Oz to literally flying monkeys! All this while hosting famous acts like UB40, Tyler Henry: The Hollywood Medium, and Everclear, to name a few. It is heartwarming to see a multigenerational community come together to bring this beloved story to life. And I can’t wait to see some families bring their young ones to witness this classic story for the very first time!
What else would you like us to know about The Wizard of Oz at bergenPAC?
The Wizard of Oz’s timeless lessons are ones I still cherish from my childhood. Even as an adult, I reflect on Dorothy’s journey to remind myself to look within for answers, follow my intuition, and maintain hope amidst grief, instability, and negative forces. With brains, heart, and courage, anything is possible. And of course, having a loyal furry sidekick is always a bonus.
At bergenPAC, we believe theater and arts education are central to a thriving community and our production embodies this belief through the way our cast has immersed themselves in these iconic lessons of the show and how they support one another as an ensemble on their respective yellow brick roads.
We would love to learn more about your performing arts school as a whole. Please share!
We have something for everyone at our school! Our mission is to provide arts experiences to everyone, regardless of skill level, age, financial ability and experience! We offer early childhood, theater, music, Hip-Hop, visual art and all types of dance to all ages! Early childhood starts as young as 3 months old and our classes are offered for all ages and we even have programs for seniors! Our Outreach program reaches thousands of students in many schools in the northern New Jersey region, and we have an arts education program for students with special needs and for students in our communities dealing with food insecurity among many other challenges. We use the arts as a tool to educate on real-life issues, reach kids in more engaging ways, and bring joy and connection to our community! We really do have it all, come visit us and check us out!
How can parents enroll their children?
We accept registrations throughout the year on a rolling basis.
Please visit bergenpac.org/education to view our class schedule.
Call our front desk any time at 201-482-8194 with any questions and to register today!
