FREEPORT – You can’t make these things up. A theater company in Iowa sent costumes to Freeport for the upcoming production of “The Wizard of Oz,” at the Freeport Performing Arts Center. The shipment was delayed due to a tornado.
Freeport Players is working in conjunction with Freeport Family Performing Arts to put on the American classic. It’s the largest production ever for Freeport Players, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary of producing theater in Freeport.
A special preview performance is set for 7 p.m. on July 17. The show runs through July 27, with Friday-Saturday performances at 7 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2.
“This is large not only in terms of the cast, but in the scale of the production itself,” said Elizabeth Gufffey, managing/artistic director for Freeport Players. Our buzzword for this show has been ‘epic.’”
Director Steph Ross, co-director Tim Ryan of Freeport Family Performing Arts and musical director David Delano chose the 51-member cast.
“Several members of Greater Freeport Community Chorus anchor the ensemble. They add a lot to the sound on the choral numbers and several have featured roles,” Guffey said. “Behind the scenes we have another 20-plus designers, directors, stage managers, technicians and stage hands and over a dozen volunteers have been working on set and props construction. So, not only is this our largest cast in years, it is also our largest production team in years.”
Freeport Players board member Sam Hunneman helped with planning and set design. It was a challenge.
“There’s a lot to live up to,” Hunneman said. “Because this is following a movie, it lends a whole other layer. Just making a Tinman costume or a Lion costume that is believable is quite enough, but a twister is another thing. Then, there’s, how do you make a witch disappear? We’ve had some grand old times with this.”
Still, audiences will be in for some surprises.
“Things will shock you,” Hunneman said.
Angelina Moline, 13, of South Portland, will play Dorothy.
“Dorothy and her friends are lead parts – they share lead parts because they’re in just about every scene,” Guffey said. “But it’s certainly Dorothy’s story.”
Guffey said that Moline, who has performed with Acorn Productions of Westbrook, is making her first appearance for Freeport Players. She is definitely not too old for the part, Guffey said, even though Judy Garland was 16 when she played Dorothy in the 1939 movie.
“In her role in the book, she was 8,” Guffey said. “Judy Garland was skewed up to be Dorothy.”
Though the part of the Scarecrow was played by a male in the movie, Emily Grotz will be the Scarecrow in this production. Grotz, a recent graduate of Camden Hills High School who now lives in Freeport, brings along her parents to help in the play. Lori Grotz is costume designer, and Greg Grotz is co-set designer.
“Some of our most epic pieces are his creations,” Guffey said.
Justin Stebbins of Westbrook will be the Tinman. Stebbins, who also is new to Freeport Players, has performed for Lyric Music Theater of South Portland.
Freeport’s own Jake Junkins, a veteran of both Freeport Players and Freeport Family Performing Arts plays, will be the Cowardly Lion.
“Freeport and Durham are well-represented in both the feature roles and the ensemble,” Guffey said
Guffey said that Freeport Players welcomes the participation of Freeport Family Performing Arts, which features children and their families in its performances.
“With their resources and our resources, we said, ‘Yeah, we can do this,’” she said. “Their bring a lot of young people to the cast, and their parents.”
Tickets, at $10 for adults and $5 for children under 18, will be sold at the door for the July 17 preview performance. They also can be purchased for the other shows at fpconline.org, or at the Freeport Community Center.
A CLOSER LOOK
Tickets for “The Wizard of Oz,” July 17-27 at the Freeport Performing Arts Center, are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 18. They will be sold at the door for the July 17, 7 p.m., preview performance and can be purchased at www.fpconline.org, or at the Freeport Community Center. Friday-Saturday performances are at 7 p.m. and Sunday matinees are at 2.
Costumes are being prepared for actors in “The Wizard of Oz” at the Freeport Performing Arts Center. 
Cynthia Lunt, who plays the part of a resident of Oz in “The Wizard of Oz,” tries on her costume for the show, which opens July 17.
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