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Event Details

December 6, 2026 - April 25, 2027

The Wizard of Oz: 2027 Community Production

Location:
Merage JCC
1 Federation Way
Irvine, CA 92603

Details

 

JStage presents

THE WIZARD OF OZ

By L. Frank Baum

With Music and Lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg
Background Music by Herbert Stothart
Dance and Vocal Arrangements by Peter Howard
Orchestration by Larry Wilcox
Adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company
Based upon the Classic Motion Picture owned by Turner Entertainment Co. and distributed in all media by Warner Bros.

Director: Carina Morales
Assistant Director: Klarissa Mesee
Music Director: Colleen Dietz
Production Designer: Haven Hanson

JStage is a critically acclaimed, award-winning theatre. All JStage shows are professionally directed, and feature professional lighting, sound, costume, hair, makeup, and scenic design. Performances will take place in the 488 seat Isidore C. & Penny W. Myers Theatre at the Merage JCC in Irvine.

The Wizard of Oz is a volunteer, non-Equity, community production. No participation fees are required.

LOCATION

Please note that everyone will need a photo ID to enter the building
Isadore C. and Penny W. Myers Theatre at the Merage Jewish Community Center of Orange County
1 Federation Way
Irvine, CA, 92603

AUDITIONS

Vocal / Acting Auditions
Sunday, December 6, 2026 from 5 - 10 P.M.

Prepare 16 - 32 bars of a song of your choice in the style of the show that shows off your vocal and acting abilities, or a one minute monologue. An accompanist will not be available for this audition. Please bring a device to play an accompaniment track cued to your audition cut (a Bluetooth speaker will be provided). You may sing from the show.

Dance Auditions
Wednesday, December 9, 2026 from 7 - 10 P.M.
Please arrive warm and ready to dance.

Walk-ins will be seen as time permits on both open audition days, but appointments are strongly encouraged. A sign up sheet will be made available in November, so please check back soon!

CALLBACKS

Saturday, December 13, 2026 from 4 - 10 P.M.

VIDEO AUDITIONS

Live auditions are strongly encouraged, but if you are not available for live auditions, you may submit a video audition no later than Sunday, December 6, at 12:00 PM. Please email [email protected] for video submission instructions.

REHEARSALS

Mandatory read-through / company meeting on Sunday, January 3, from 5 - 8 P.M.

Music rehearsals will be called for some actors January 18 - 21, and January 25 - 28, based on actor availability.

Regular rehearsals will run January 31 - April 8, on Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Please refer to the rehearsal calendar below for more detailed information.

Not all cast members will be called to every rehearsal. Detailed call sheets will be  provided each week, created based on actor availability provided at auditions.

TECH REHEARSALS

Saturday, April 10-Wednesday, April 14, 2027

Attendance is mandatory at all tech rehearsals

PERFORMANCES

Thursday, April 15 at 7 P.M.

Saturday, April 17 at 2 P.M.

Saturday, April 17 at 7 P.M.

Sunday, April 18 at 2 P.M.

Saturday, April 24 at 2 P.M.

Saturday, April 24 at 7 P.M.

Sunday, April 25 at 2 P.M.

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN

Performers of all ethnicities, cultural, religious, and gender identities, as well as performers with disabilities, are strongly encouraged to audition for all roles. All roles are available!

Dorothy Gale: Female-identifying character. Seeking an actor 18+ to play a character who reads 16 - 18. Excellent actor, a mezzo-soprano with a strong, clear mix, and a very strong mover. Dorothy is an adventurous, bold, and optimistic young lady who somehow seems to keep finding herself in trouble. She dearly loves her family, friends and her dog, Toto.

Aunt Em / Glinda: Female-identifying character, playing age 35 - 60. Excellent actor and singer. Aunt Em: A hard-working farmer’s wife who is as deeply caring as she is no-nonsense. Glinda: The graceful and lovely Good Witch of the North.

Uncle Henry / Ozian Guard: Male-identifying character, playing age 35 - 60. Excellent actor and strong singer. Uncle Henry: Dorothy’s quiet, hard-working, and adoring uncle. Ozian Guard: the cantankerous gatekeeper who welcomes Dorothy and her friends into the Emerald City.

Hunk / Scarecrow: Male-identifying character, playing age 25 - 45. Excellent comedic actor, very strong singer, excellent dancer. Tumbling, tricks, and slapstick movement are a plus. Actor must be comfortable with the use of heavy theatrical makeup, including possible prosthetic pieces. Hunk: A clumsy farmhand from Kansas. Scarecrow: Dorothy’s hopelessly inept but endlessly lovable friend.

Hickory / Tinman: Male-identifying character, playing age 25 - 45. Excellent actor, very strong singer and mover. Actor must be comfortable with the use of heavy theatrical makeup, including possible prosthetic pieces. Hickory: A kindly farmhand. Tinman: Dorothy’s lovelorn friend who is very sweet and caring in spite of his missing heart.

Zeke / Lion: Male-identifying character, playing age 25 - 45. Excellent comedic character actor, very strong singer and mover. Tumbling and slapstick movement are a plus. Actor must be comfortable with the use of heavy theatrical makeup, including possible prosthetic pieces. Zeke: A cowardly farmhand. Lion: Dorothy’s friend whose brave facade repeatedly slips to reveal a coward who is afraid of his own shadow.

Miss Gulch / The Wicked Witch of the West: Female-identifying character, playing age 35-65. An excellent actress able to thrill with her intensity, very strong singer and mover. Stage combat experience and the ability to ride a bicycle is a plus. Actor must be comfortable with the use of heavy theatrical makeup, including possible prosthetic pieces. Miss Gulch: A bitter, hateful woman bent on taking Toto from Dorothy. The Wicked Witch of the West: A powerful, vengeful witch with a flair for the dramatic and a chilling cackle.

Professor Marvel / The Wizard of Oz: Male-identifying character, playing age 35 - 60. Excellent actor. Professor Marvel: A traveling scam artist with a good heart. The Wizard of Oz: A regular man who has deceived a kingdom into believing that he is the great and powerful Oz.

Niko: Actor age 18+ to play the leader of the flying monkeys who speaks exclusively in gibberish. Excellent comedic actor and very strong mover. Tumbling is a plus. Actor must be comfortable with the use of heavy theatrical makeup, including possible prosthetic pieces. This role will double as a member of the ensemble.

Toto Puppeteer: Seeking an actor age 15+ to bring Dorothy’s beloved Toto to life. Puppetry experience is a plus, but not required. Strong actor and mover with a great attitude.

Featured Dancers: Dancers ages 18+. Seeking excellent, expressive musical theatre dancers who are strong actors and singers to portray various roles including crows, trees, jitterbugs, and flying monkeys.

Ensemble: Performers ages 14 - adult. Excellent actors and singers who are strong movers to portray Ozians and Winkies, as well as pit sing during the Munchkinland sequence. Some ensemble members may also be featured as on-stage munchkins. Featured roles including munchkin soloists, beauticians, manicurists, polishers, monkeys, and the Winkie General will be cast from the ensemble.

Youth Ensemble: Performers ages 9 - 13. Good actors, singers, and movers to portray munchkins and poppies. All actors must have excellent attitudes and the ability to remain focused during long rehearsals without dedicated close supervision. Parents are not permitted to attend rehearsals. All actors ages 13 and younger must be enrolled in JStage’s spring production of Singin’ in the Rain JR to be eligible to be considered for The Wizard of Oz.

Please email [email protected] if you have any questions. We hope to see you at auditions!

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