East End Players THE WIZ-2 42017
Wausau East High School students practice scenes from The Wiz. Performances will be held April 21-23 at Wausau East High School. (Contributed photo)

WAUSAU – Dorothy’s new path through the Land of Oz will provide a radical explosion of sound and color as the East End Players present The Wiz, April 21-23 at Wausau East High School.

Set in the 1970s to an amazing mixture of rock, gospel and soul music, The Wiz is a more modern/urban adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, originally written by L. Frank Baum and published at the turn of the 20th century.

Dorothy travels to the Emerald City in hopes that the Wiz can send her back home to Kansas and along the way a few familiar faces join the journey such as the Scarecrow, Tin man and Lion. Along the way some new characters are also introduced on a trip you would never have expected.

“Our spring production will be a dazzling array of steampunk settings and costumes,” said Terry Riska, director of theater at Wausau East High School. “Steampunk is a science fantasy sub-genre that incorporates technology and designs inspired by 19th century industrial steam-powered machinery. This production is a comical, fun filled and brilliantly performed musical that’s guaranteed to appeal to theatergoers of all ages”

The New York Post says, “The Wiz” radiates so much energy you can hardly sit in your seat…great fun.

Approximately 85 students will take part in performances of The Wiz at the Wausau East Auditorium on Friday, April 21 at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 22 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 23 at 1 p.m.

Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $8 for students and senior citizens. Tickets may be purchased at the Wausau East High School Business Office during school hours or at the door.