Dorothy and the Wizard At East Hampton's Guild Hall
The Springs Community Theater Company will present “The Wizard of Oz” in seven performances at Guild Hall over the next two weekends, starting tomorrow at 7 p.m. The production will feature the music and lyrics created for the original MGM motion picture by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg and the book by John Kane, adapted in 1987 for the Royal Shakespeare Company in London.
The Springs Theater Company was founded in 2005 by Jayne Freedman and Barbara Mattson, both of whom live in that hamlet. “Years ago Barbara and I were involved in the Community Theater Company of East Hampton,” said Ms. Freedman. “Once that ended, we decided we’ve got to bring community theater to East Hampton again.”
The company’s first production was “Once Upon a Mattress,” which was performed at the Springs Presbyterian Church. “Barbara and I paid for the whole thing ourselves so we could get the company going.” Since then the group has become a nonprofit organization, moved its performances to Guild Hall, and produced “South Pacific,” “Grease,” Li’l Abner,” and “Peter Pan.”
Neither the actors, directors, producer, nor choreographer get paid, and company members build the sets, make the costumes, and sell advertising for the playbill. However, Guild Hall, security guards, lighting and sound technicians, and the orchestra members do get paid, as does the company that holds the rights to the play. “We try to raise as much money as we can before we do a show and then hope we break even when the show’s over.”
Many of the kids in the cast are from Springs and East Hampton, while the adults hail from East Hampton, Sag Harbor, Amagansett, Riverhead, Wading River, and other points west. “When someone loves theater and hears about a production they’ve always wanted to be in, they’ll travel.” Auditions for “The Wizard of Oz” were held in June, and rehearsals began in September.
Ms. Freedman is co-director and choreographer of the production. Her sister, Diana Horn, is co-director, and Ms. Mattson is the producer. “Some of us are professionals and some of us aren’t, but we always put on a great production and we really have a lot of fun.”
While the initial idea for the next play comes from Ms. Freedman and Ms. Mattson, other company members become part of the process. “You kind of pick a show you know certain people will come out for, as in, ‘he can play this, she can play that,’ but you never know until the auditions who’s going to come.”
The company draws a mix of adults, families, and kids. “We didn’t do children’s shows at first, but I always wanted to do ‘Peter Pan.’ I also want to get the kids onstage. Aside from the opera, Springs School doesn’t have theater, so I wanted to give those kids a chance to perform.”
Other show times are Saturday at 1 and 7 p.m., Sunday at 1, Friday, Nov. 20, and Nov. 21 at 7, and Nov. 22 at 1. Tickets are $25, $15 for children and students 18 and under.