Yesterday afternoon was the closing show for the 23rd annual production of the Wizard of Oz. Mitchel Sommers, featured above, who is celebrating his 25th year with Community Theatre of Greensboro (CTG), has directed the Wizard of Oz for all the 23 years it has been staged. Performances are held at The Carolina Theatre and, each year, they seems to get better and better. The costumes, lighting, set design, special effects, singing and acting are just about perfect. Areal moves add extra excitement to the show. (The Wicked Witch even bikes through the air)! Having a live orchestra is icing on the cake. So much of this perfection, we owe to the hard work of the director. 

The “one yellow brick at a time” slogan is tied in with the fundraising campaign. Out of a 1.2 million dollar note to purchase the former Broach Theatre on South Elm Street for CTG, donors have contributed about a million. However, CTG could use a few more people to purchase “bricks” (plaques).  The engraved plaques are on permanent public display at CTG’s theater, renamed The Starr Theatre, on Elm Street. While some productions are staged at the Starr, with a cast of nearly 70, plus a fan base that has grown over 23 years, even the 1,075-seat-capacity Carolina Theatre fills quickly for Wizard of Oz productions. From the dedicated actors and their families, volunteers, audience, production staff, orchestra members, community donors, Carolina Theatre staff, and EVERYONE involved in the Wizard of Oz, you are proof positive of the magic that happens when a community works together. To all of you, especially Mr. Sommers, we applaud you virtually. See you next year!