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Local Theater Builds Community
Munchkins all in blue, ready for their stage entrance in Wizard of Oz.
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Seattle Press-Nov 08, 2001 --
Variety Plus, Seattle's most inclusive theater group, is mounting a production of Wizard of Oz
this week at the Museum of History and Industry. If you go, you will be
treated to an experience created by a cast of 83, ranging in age from
four to 50-something. At the heart of it all are Angela Rinaldi-Gribas
and Bob Gribas, theater professionals who wanted to do something
different.
Variety Plus is unique in Seattle. Anyone who wants can join and take
part in their yearly production. Nobody is turned away. All the actors volunteer their time and buy their own
costumes, and on performance days everyone assists in set changing,
concessions and ushering.
Angela Rinaldi-Gribas explains, "We give kids and adults the
opportunity to work together. We have lots of families in the show.
Kids join and pull their parents in, or sometimes adult actors come in
and end up bringing their kids." Cast members come from all over the
region, from Tukwila and Burien to Shoreline and Everett.In addition
to mixing age groups, Variety Plus also blends people of different
experience levels.
Bob Gribas puts final touches on the makeup of Glinda the Good Witch, played by Yvette Soler.
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The plays they put on have familiar names, like Snow White and Little Orphan Annie, but the scripts are original. Bob Gribas wrote this year's Wizard of Oz. Rinaldi-Gribas says,"we did a spin on the Wizard of Oz
using several of the Oz books. It's definitely not the movie version."
Dorothy, the Tin Man and the Scarecrow are here, of course, but so are
Quadlings, Porcelain Cows, at least one Chicken. There are 35 speaking
parts in the production; other cast members are dancers, singers or
street scene extras. Many people take more than one role. "Everyone
gets as much stage time as possible," says Rinaldi-Gribas, "so they
aren't on stage for five minutes and then sit around for an hour."
Even the very young cast members are given responsibilities, and
Rinaldi-Gribas says this is one of the things that keeps them coming
back year after year. "It builds confidence," she says. "We have
parents and teachers commenting on their kids' improved grades because
of this experience."
Gracie Rowan, 10, plays a Munchkin. "It takes up most of my time, but
it's fun," she says of the hectic 6-week production schedule.
Sisters Kibbianne and Steevie Sporleder, 10 and eight, have been performing with Variety Plus since 1996. "My first play was Little Orphan Annie," Kibbianne says, and Steevie is quick to jump in, "Me too!" "In Snow White," Kibbianne continues, "I was a flower that helped Snow White."
You can still catch the Wizard of Oz on Saturday and
Sunday, November 10 and 11. Call Variety Plus at (206) 368-8386 or come
to the Museum of History and Industry's McEachern Auditorium to buy
your tickets at the door. Showtimes are 4 and 7 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 4
p.m. Sunday.
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Anonymous
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Mar 13, 2005
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OzMunchkinland.com is the Exclusive Agent for THREE of the surviving
Original Munchkins from the "Wizard of Oz" 1939 movie. Munchkin Jerry
Maren (aka "The Lollipop Kid"), Karl Slover (Munchkin Trumpeter), and
Mickey Carroll (Munchkin Violinist and Fiddler) are available to your
organization to help you promote your business or specific activity.
Their specific biographical sketches may be found at our website.
For appearance fees and specific information, please feel free to
contact us and or visit our website.
Thanks for your consideration in advance.
Ralph Zellem
Agent for The Munchkins
(516)361-4525
ozagent@aol.com
www.ozmunchkinland.com |
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