Plays in The Park Wizard of Oz Review and Photo Gallery

Description: The Cowardly Lion, Jaron Hoyt; Dorothy, Maranatha Hoyt; The Tin Man, Noah Nunez-Rebel; and The Scarecrow, Kaydence Lagergren star in The Wizard of Oz. Photos by Adalynn Hart.

Plays in the Park Brings Livewell Park Alive with The Wizard of Oz

Directed by Bethany Taullie and Bridget Briscoe, The Young Performer's Edition of The Wizard of Oz is the first performance to grace the stage at La Junta's new Livewell Park. Located on Santa Fe Ave., the park features sculptures, murals in process, and this weekend student actors at their best.

In a drab dress before black and white backdrops Dorothy, played by Maranatha Hoyt, opened with "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."

The Youth led theater group designed and constructed their own set, which included hand painted backdrops of Kansas and the Land of Oz.

Elmira Gulch played by Rachel Phillips is out to have ToTo (Joseph Ulloa) destroyed and Professor Marvel (Andrew Benjamin) delivers a disturbing psychic reading just before Dorothy runs home.

Caught in the plot twisting tornado accompanied by a whirlwind of dancers Dorothy finds herself far from home in the Land of OZ.

Munchkins emerge in La Junta's Livewell Park with an adorable performance. 

"A Day of Celebrating Independence for all munchkins and their decedants."

Glinda the Goodwitch played by Kalley Crouch and The Wicked Witch of the West have a clash over the coveted magic ruby red slippers.

Glinda prompts Dorothy to follow the yellow brick road to see the Wizard of Oz and the Wicked Witch played by Emiliano Hernandez pursues. 

Kaydence Lagergren plays the scarecrow in search of a brain but with wisdom enough to prattle "People without brains do an awful lot of talking." They sing a lovely rendition of if I only had a brain.

Noah Nunez-Rebel plays A hollow chested tin man who needs a heart. He does a solid performance of "If I only had a Heart."

A cowardly Lion played by Jaron Hoyt joins the romp down the yellow brick road with hopes to find his courage.

Scenes you may not recall such as the jitterbug scene where the party dances uncontrollably joined by the wicked witches jitterbugs highlight the performance with surprises.

The group arrives at the city of Oz and musical numbers and threats from the wicked witch ensue.

Dorothy comes to tears and persuades a castle guard to allow them to see the Wizard of Oz and the great and powerful Oz challenges the party to bring him the wicked witches broom.

See the rest of the story this weekend at La Junta's Livewell Park...

See Oz the great and powerful for yourself in the Plays in the Park production of the Young Performers Edition of the Wizard of Oz.

Showtimes are Friday at 3pm, Saturday and Sunday at 6pm at La Junta's Livewell Park.

The complete cast is listed here: Plays in The Park - Youth Led Theatre Announces Wizard of Oz Cast

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Photo Gallery By Adalynn Hart