By Dawn Burleigh

The Orange Leader

 

Lions, tigers and bears, oh my!

While Dorothy and her friends travel the yellow brick road to the Emerald City to speak to the Wizard of Oz, residents will be able to travel down Green Ave. towards Lutcher Theater to experience a horse of a different color.

Kaliee Kaimann, 21, is enjoying her second opportunity to portray Dorothy on stage.

“It’s wonderful,” Kaimann said. “The costume and wig make me look like a little girl.”

Kaimann had wrapped up the production with the Children’s Theater of Cincinnati when auditions for with Prather Touring began. So she headed to New York City.

“I was just going for it,” Kaimann said. “I thought I had a decent shot.”

On the day of her auditions, she was one of approximately 300 others hoping for the role.

“This production is very true to the original movie,” Kaimann said. “It is a family-friendly show with lots of special effects for scenes like the twister, the Oz head, and flying.”

Kaimann said the scenes would not scare children.

“We keep it classic, like the story,” Kaimann added.

Kaimann also said her involvement with local theater helped her build experience and friendships over the years.

“My first real production was with a local community theater,” Kaimann said. “My experience and friendships is what made me fall in love with theater and to know this is what I want to do with my life.”

Dorothy and Toto, portrayed by a rescue dog, will travel over the rainbow to Lutcher Theater at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018.

For tickets visit Lutcher.org or call 409-886-5535

The show is sponsored by Cloeren Incorporated and Kathy and Tommy Gunn.