In just a few short weeks, Kansas City Ballet will perform the World Premiere of Septime Webre’s The Wizard of Oz!
We anticipate 10 sold-out performances, so be sure to share that you’re seeing this fantastical new show with your friends.
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
The scale of this world premiere is impressive:
- The all-new music composed by Matthew Pierce, the same composer for Alice (in wonderland), is 471 pages long and features three percussion players playing 35 different percussion instruments.
- This is a unique collaboration with Kansas City Ballet, Colorado Ballet and Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet. We worked with an internationally-recognized creative team to create a major new work of outstanding quality.
- A total of 120 stunning costumes and 112 hats, designed by Liz Vandal, in the production and our costume shop will paint 220 shoes. There are at least 60 costume changes throughout the production.
- Upwards of 20 puppets, designed by Nicholas Mahon, including a mechanical Toto, are involved in the production. One of Mr. Mahon’s most recent projects was for the 2018 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony.
- A first for Kansas City Ballet, this show will feature incredible projection technology, designed by Aaron Rhyne, using a combination of three state-of-the-art projectors. This will add an integral design element that helps provide atmosphere and dimensionality, and enhance the experience.
- More than 300 light cues, designed by Trad A Burns, will take place using over 1000 channels of lights.
- There will be eight flying effects executed by multiple characters.
- At least 120 people, not including dancers, were part of this collaboration team including designers and makers.
- In Kansas City, 30 company dancers and 15 second company dancers will make up the cast, not counting children.
- There are 23 children’s roles and two casts for a total of 46 children performing in The Wizard of Oz, providing a huge asset to the development and growth of the Kansas City Ballet School.