Production a million-dollar collaboration between
Colorado Ballet, Kansas City Ballet and Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet
by Claudia Carbone
Photo: Dorothy’s (Dana Benton) red slippers; photo by Kate Rolston
Grandparents, you are in for an extraordinary treat when the family-friendly Wizard of Oz ballet debuts in Denver Feb. 1-10. The full-length ballet of L. Frank Baum’s beloved story is a first-time collaboration between Colorado Ballet, Kansas City Ballet and Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet. There is strength in numbers.
Brains. Heart. Courage. The three things Dorothy and her friends seek in the land of Oz are the very aspects that make this collaboration successful.
Brains: the most brilliant minds in the performing arts industry formed an international company and negotiated terms with Warner Bros. that owns the rights to the 1939 movie version. “This show follows the movie almost to a tee,” said Gil Boggs, artistic director for Colorado Ballet. Even Dorothy’s ballet slippers are ruby-red.
Heart: the creative team led with their hearts to produce the most imaginative work of art ever conceived on stage. Acclaimed choreographer Septime Webre assembled an international team of dancers, designers and composers to lead Dorothy down the yellow brick road. He even enlisted the puppet artistry of Nicholas Mahon, who created the puppets for the 2018 Pyeong Chang Olympics Opening Ceremonies. He makes Dorothy’s pet dog Toto come to life. “Toto steals the show,” said Boggs.
Courage: each of the companies took a financial risk to fund the million-dollar project, but the investment will pay off in spades with production rentals. Already there’s interest from Cincinnati, Hawaii and Hong Kong companies.
Children of all ages will love this show, said Boggs, especially the tornado scene with people flying all over the stage. “The costumes and sets are so colorful. Emerald City is just stunning. It’s thoroughly entertaining, non-stop.”
Kids will also get a kick watching children from the Colorado Ballet Academy on stage as poppy seeds, grasshoppers, baby ballerinas and a gate guard.
Wizard of Oz world premiere opened in Kansas City in October of last year. One reviewer had this to say: “Webre’s iteration of Oz is the fresh take we’ve been waiting for. Heartfelt, adventurous, and with plenty of shock and awe. Diehard fans and those passively familiar with the source material are in for a treat. Webre’s show proves to be a welcome addition to the lengthy history of Oz and its characters.”
Colorado Ballet performance dates and times.
Friday, February 1, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 2, 2019 at 2 p.m.
Saturday, February 2, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 3, 2019 at 2 p.m.
Sunday, February 3, 2019, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, February 8, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.
*Saturday, February 9, 2019 at 2 p.m.
Saturday, February 9, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 10, 2019 at 2 p.m.
Sunday, February 10, 2019 at 6:30 p.m.
(*) Audio Described Performance
At the Elie Caulkins Opera House (https://operahousedenver.com/)
Tickets range from $30 to $155. Visit COLORADOBALLET.ORG or call 303-837-8888 ext. 2 to purchase.
ColoradoGrandparent.com page: https://www.coloradograndparent.com/event/colorado-ballet-wizard-of-oz/2019-02-01/ Click: “See All” for appropriate day