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Brown Grand Players to perform “TheWonderful Wizard of Oz”

The Brown Grand Players are gearing up for another performance of the classic and timeless 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'.

Under the watchful eye of play director Sam Sacco, the actors spent the final few days of rehearsal fine-tuning their performances and working out some of the logistical kinks.
"The actors have a lot of lines to learn in this play," Sacco said, "so that's always the biggest struggle."
Sacco also performs with the Brown Grand Players, but donned the director's cap for the reprisal of the play.
"We did this play a few years ago," Sacco added, "but this time around we have a lot more music, so it definitely improves the production. Our costumes this year are all hand-made by Diane Morrison, and they're amazing. So I'm really feeling good about it."
While we were speaking, the rehearsals stopped for a moment as one of the actors struggled to remember a specific line. Sacco smiled.
"If the actors don't know their lines, then I guess you get to watch a different play each night," he said good-naturedly. "I always remind the cast: the audience didn't read the script, so they don't know you flubbed a line. If one of the actors has to ad-lib, it'll work if the other actors in the scene play along."
Richard Briggs is bringing a physical interpretation to his role as the Scarecrow, even sprawling across the floor in several scenes. A recent addition to the Concordia community, Briggs moved here with his wife Violette Kjeldgaard, who is the instructor in English, Speech, and Theater at Cloud County Community College.
"I love the immediate feedback you get when you perform on stage," Briggs said. "It's always fun to tell an entire story from beginning to end in front of a live audience."
Mikki Nelson from Jameston is playing the wicked witch, and she's got a practiced cackle that will make you giggle.
"I've been doing this since 1993," she said, and let loose with one her signature evil laughs. "I get to be mean, nasty, and rotten... I love it!"
Dexter Buss is the Tin Man, reprising a role he played during the previous production several years ago.
"I interpret the Tin Man as being coldhearted, before he got a heart," Buss said. "So I talk a little differently before I get the heart, and I walk a little stiff-legged."
You know the cast is having a good time with the play, because when Buss was asked if he modeled his Tin Man character after a real person, he grinned and looked over at the play's director.
"Yes," he said. "Sam Sacco."
Kenny Johnston plays the Lion, and he enjoys getting in touch with the timid aspect of the role. "The Lion is just a great character. I get to be scared and wimpy and cry... it's so much fun to be a drama queen!"
Johnston sings two songs in the production, which gives him an opportunity to display his impressive vocal talents.
"The King of the Forest scene is my favorite," he said. "I love that speech. It really lets me use my musical skills."
Whitney Jones has the coveted lead role of 'Dorothy'. She's done over 15 plays in her young career, and has a surprising admission about performing live.
"I have crazy stage fright!" she said with a laugh.
The role of Dorothy is especially challenging because Jones is in almost every scene, which means she has the most lines to memorize.
"As the lead role, the other performers need to rely on you to get it right. This cast is just great about it. We really feed off each other. We have such good chemistry together."
'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' will be on stage at the Brown Grand Theater Friday, October 26, starting at 7 p.m., and Saturday October 27, also at 7 p.m.. There will be a Sunday matinee performance starting at 2 p.m..
The Brown Grand is asking kids to come to the play in costumes modeled after the characters. Prizes will be awarded after each show to the top three best costumes.  The nine finalists will be honored at a Business In Motion event held at the Broadway Plaza on October 31, and a Grand Prize awarded for Best Costume.

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