Over the Rainbow: Dexter, Chelsea Youths Star in Stockbridge Town Hall Players' "Wizard of Oz"

STOCKBRIDGE — Stockbridge’s Town Hall Players are set to take audiences on a magical journey with its production of L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz.

Throughout the course of young Dorothy Gale’s journey, she is united with faithful friends, Scarecrow, Tinman, and the Cowardly Lion.

Dorothy, played by Sarah Grace Cattell of Dexter, along with the rest of the cast of The Wizard of Oz, will sing and dance their way down the yellow brick road and into audiences' hearts.

With more than 70 local actors and actresses, both young and old, director Jeff Boyer says, “This is one of the most advanced productions the Town Hall Players have done to date."

Cattell, 10, a student at Daycroft Montessori School in Ann Arbor, said she is excited to be returning to the stage.

"When I heard I was cast as Dorothy, I screamed my head off," she said. "It's a role that I always wanted to play."

Cattell has performed in area shows for two years, and recently auditioned for the 2013 season at the Encore Musical Theatre.

She said there are several challenges of being cast in a lead role, including juggling homework, spending time with friends, and memorizing lines. As Dorothy, Cattell also has a unique challenge of interacting with a live dog on stage.

"I'm allergic to dogs, but I've gotten through it," she said. "The dog is very nice and cooperative. He doesn't run off stage when he's not supposed to, which is good."

The Town Hall Players’ production of The Wizard of Oz is being directed by Boyer and Kristine Landis, with musical direction by Jim Kaderabek and Leisa Gipe.

The production will run Oct. 19, 20, 21. Performance times are Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Tickets are available at the door for $12.

The Stockbridge Town Hall is located in the heart of downtown Stockbridge.  For more information contact Kristeen Webb at 517-488-6666.

The Town Hall Players will close out 2012 with a Christmas show that includes two reader theatre versions of How the Grinch Stole Christmas and A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Editor's note: Steve Woerner contributed to this article.