A Back-Stage View: The Cast of the Wizard of Oz

Lead Actors

by Vickie Butler

Photographs Vic Kirby

Roxanne Rosenblatt (Dorothy):  Talented writer, actress, make-up artist…

wanting the very best from herself and others; her smile is contagious.

Sharon Morris (Zach/Lion):  “Ain’t it the truth; ain’t it the truth:” 

Super kind, ultra-talented and always thinking of others…

she kept us warm during cold performances with thermoses of hot beverages.

Vic Kirby (Hank/Tin Man):  Brilliant, handsome and witty: he has it all; 

memorized his and everyone else’s lines from the beginning.

Isabel Smyth (Samantha/Scarecrow):  A blond dynamo who made us believe in her dream 

by the force of her vision, determination and drive. Now there is a fabulous stage 

& a wildly successful play…

Donna Schultz (Miss Gulch/Wicked Witch):  Like magic this sparkling spirit walked 

into the audition and took off with our hearts. Great new local talent.  Welcome to Baja!

Anita Harris (Good Witch Glinda):  Type-cast as Glinda for sure:  beautiful, sparkly, 

funny and just a little salty! We and the audience love her.

Peter Jackson (Archibald/Wizard of Oz):  That great booming voice, those sparkling eyes…

he made us believe that if you gave him a beer, he wouldn’t build on the dunes anymore!

Final Performance this February 18th!

photo credit: laurie pearce bauer

Our Last Performance Night will be 
Friday, February 18th, 2011

"The Wizard of Oz with a Todos Twist"

Doors open at 6:30pm 

Show starts at 7:30pm

Refreshment bar will be open

Advance Ticket Price: 150 pesos or $15 usd

Door Ticket Price: 200 pesos or $20 usd

Out of town folks please use "Will Call" 

Email Vickie at  vandhbutler@gmail.com


Posting by
Alvaro Colindres

This coming weekend there will be a grand finale in the theater community. This Friday is the final performance for the “Wizard of Oz” with a Todos Twist. The play’s produced by Blue Moon Productions and hosted at their new amphitheater in Las Tunas. The cast began rehearsals in November and, with over 40 members, they had there work cut out. I must say that there efforts paid off, for the play was fantastic! The community really came together to produce this event and everyone genuinely seemed to be enjoying themselves. The costumes were so colorful and creative, especially considering the limited resources available here, the costume designer Roxanne Sparks deserves a mention. So if you happen to be in Todos Santos, or looking to get away for the weekend, then get your tickets and don’t miss out on this rendition of the Wizard of Oz. Tickets are still available for the grand finale February 18th on sale at the Tecolote Bookstore (612-145-0295), located on the corner of Calle Juarez and Hidalgo. For the amphitheater in Las Tunas, head north on La Playitas Road and look for the signs and turn west onto Calle Los Mangos and follow the Yellow Dirt Road.....


http://alvarobaja.wordpress.com/2011/02/16/so-whats-new-in-todos-santos/

The Wizard headed off to his plane       photo by Alvaro Colindres

Aspiring Young Talent

By Vickie Butler

Integral to the resounding success of The Wizard of Oz with a Todos Twist is the commitment made by the four outstanding children in the cast: Evelyn Urias Velazquez, 12, (Lullabye League, Crow, Polisher); Ella Corinne Park, 11, (Lullabye League, Horse of a Different Color, Winged Monkey); Silvio Carlos Garcia Baum, 11, (Todos the Dog); and Dulce Sofia McRoberts, 9, (Lullabye League & Nikko). Talented, enthusiastic, polite, and intelligent, each of the “kids” has been an inspiration for the adult members of the cast! 

In addition to spending months of rehearsal time after school, the four have been amazing by eagerly learning their numerous roles and truly becoming an important part of cast routines. Need to know where a missing prop is?  Ask Dulce!  Need to cue the lighting guys between scenes?  Have Silvio bark! Need another dancer for the Scarecrow scene?  Get Evelyn! Need a replacement for Winged Monkey?  What about Ella!

Because the “kids” range in age from 9 to 12, the participation of their parents has been critical to their success as actors as well!  In spite of the time commitment as well as the many miles driven back and forth to rehearsals, costume fittings and performances, the following parents deserve special kudos for always being positive and supportive: Veronica Hernandez Velazquez, Andrea Park, Betsy McRoberts, and Paty Baum. 

There is no doubt that the “acting bug” has certainly bitten Evelyn, Ella, Silvio and Dulce!  Plan to see these four on Friday, Feb. 18^th; but know that you will be seeing much of them all in future productions.

Thanks to Laurie Pearce Bauer for these photographs!
baylaurelphotography.com

Roxanne Sparks, Extraordinary Costume Designer

We are so fortunate to have on our team an extraordinary woman who is a well known artist in Todos Santos, not only as a painter but in many other ways. She has amazed us all with her vision and talent of fabricating from her imagination all kinds of costumes, really making "The Wizard of Oz with a Todos Twist" come to life. Roxanne has been burning the candle late into the night the past few months to create over 60 costumes. That’s not even including a number of ideas for the challange of the Tin Man. First he was in wire mesh and then later added a soft silver material on top.  Her imagination is boundless, turning everyday household items into fantasy caricatures ie; the cuffs of the Coroner are made from coffee filters, the Barristers 17th century wig made from rolls of white foam, winged monkeys have bat style wings and Glinda’s jewelry is from someone’s grandmother.  We can’t begin to write about all she has done, you will just have to come and see the show for yourself.

We'd also want to mention our great costume/prop artist Marilyn Doran. She created the cool monkey masks, the flower pot crown and Emerald City doors. Cheri Streimkis made a wonderful Lion’s costume from bathroom towels! We also had a incredible team of unsung hero’s that helped to make this production a success: Denise Steffenhagen, Marriane Buijs, Nancy Naigle, Barbera Holman,  Linda Summers, Gillian Herbert, Vincent Lamote, Steve Thurstin and Gloria Von Jansky. 

Thanks to Vic Kirby for the portrait of Roxanne 

and Laurie Pearce Bauer for the cast pics in costumes!

It is a Hit!

Scenes from Oz thanks to  Kristin Rust

A Todos Santos-Style Twist

 laurie pearce bauer 

Luna Azul Theatre Opening Gives the “Wizard of Oz” 

a Todos Santos-Style Twist

Lions and burros and cows, oh my!

By  Mike Brozda

In Isabel Smyth’s 2011 adaptation of the classic “Wizard of Oz,” Dorothy is 60 years old and a bit crustier around the edges than she used to be. Evil bankers have foreclosed on her home, so she loads her last few belongings into a travel trailer and heads for the Mexican border. Along the way she passes through a haunted cactus forest. She meets some strange dudes, such as the surfer scarecrow.  This is the Wizard story we all know and love, but it’s got a definite Todos Santos twist.

Friday,  February 4 is an important day in the history of live theatre in Baja Californa, and Todos Santos, in particular.  That’s when the new Luna Azul Theatre opens with its first production: “The Wizard of Oz with a Todos Twist.”  Yes, you heard correctly.  Theatre.  As in beautifully designed real bricks-and-mortar, under-the-stars building with a stage that’s 50 feet wide, and 28 feet deep. Perfectly formed classical side arches soar more than 15 feet high, framing the stage and orchestra. There’s a green room where actors prepare, scenery storage, a makeup room, and a projection wall.  And “The Wizard of Oz with a Todos Santos Twist” is a big production: 20 actors, and an equal number of costumers, lighting experts, audio engineers and stage crew.

DEDICATING THEIR LIVES TO LIVE THEATRE

Luna Azul is the theatrical life masterpiece of Isabel Smyth and Raul Cavazos of Todos Santos. Smyth, 55, was born in Toronto and majored in theatre arts; she later moved to British Columbia. There she honed her skills by doing many theatrical productions with Native American tribes.

Sixty year old Raul Cavazos originally came from Houston, Texas. After a stint building homes for the rich and famous in the Los Angeles area, this craftsman and fine-arts potter arrived in Todos Santos in 1993. The couple met in 1999 in a classic Todos Santos setting: a drumming circle on the beach.

More than 10 years in the design and building, (with more expansion to come), the 100-seat Luna Azul is a magnum opus outdoor stage. Theatre-goers cluster around nightclub-style tables, which contribute to the upscale atmosphere.

“The Wizard of Oz with a Todos Twist” is the eighth play the couple has produced since their debut of the “Vagina Monologues” in 2002.

TAPPING TODOS SANTOS TALENT

This production began in June of 2010 when Isabel began brainstorming script ideas with Sharon Morris (who plays the Cowardly Lion), Roxanne Rosenblatt (Dorothy), and Anita Harris (Good Witch). Vic Kirby finds his heart as the Tin Man. Roxanne Sparks put the crew in stitches with her beautifully crafted costumes.

Building theatres is nothing new for Smyth, a high-energy, blue-eyed blonde. She built two stages in British Columbia, one in Cabo San Lucas and one in Los Barriles. But the Todos Santos stage is by far the largest and most ambitious undertaking the couple has attempted. “I learned how to build stages from Isabel,” Raul says. 

“I learned about theatre design, lighting, acoustics, the works.”

“We make about 100 new bricks every morning,” Raul says with a smile.

Palm fronds from Washingtonias on the property are woven into palapa roofs.

When they’re not involved with live theatre, Isabel and Raul perform with their band, Curvas Peligrosas. Isabel plays keyboard, guitar and sings. Raul keeps the beat on congas and percussion.

TICKETS AND PERFORMANCE DATES

“The Wizard of Oz with a Todos Twist” runs for five performances on February 4, 5, 11, 12 and 18.

Tickets are US $15 in advance, $20 at the door. They’re available at Tecolote Bookstore and the new Todos Santos Bodega wine shop in downtown Todos Santos.

DRESS WARM, BRING A BLANKET

Mid-February evenings tend to be chilly. The folding seats have insulation, but plan to dress warm and bring a blanket. Doors open at 6:30 PM on performance evenings. Shows start at 7:30 and are over by 9:30 PM. 

Mike Brozda is a former theatre critic for the Los Angeles Reader Magazine. 

For more coverage of Baja, visit his blog at www.ExperienceBaja.com

Todos Santos Gets New Theater

photograph by laurie pearce bauer of baylaurelphotography

Todos Santos Gets New Theater

By Don Partie

Reprinted from the Gringo Gazette

An inauguration performance for the new Luna Azul Theater was held on the evening of January 7th with Fitz'n Pieces, a versitile band from Northern California. The new theater, a venue by Bue Moon Productions is a 50' wide and 25' deep stage, the largest in Pueblo Magico. The sound is amazingly good due to the solid mid section back stage, which is artistically completed with four large arches, two on each side of the huge rear wall.

Isabel Symth and long time partner Raul Cavazos are the people behind Blue Moon Productions. Isabel has been in theater ost all her life, and has built stages in quite a few different places, "But nothing like this" she proudly admits. We bought this property 13 years ago, and I started performing from the beginning of being here. "Dreaming of the stage was always a part of what we wanted to do here in Todos Santos. Because it took them so long, they were able to create a most fabulous space/ Poco a poco does have some advantages - you have time to live in the space and change your mind for the better". The "Wizard of Oz with a Todos Twist" will be running five nights on weekends on 

February 4, 5, 11, 12 and the 18th.