Production photos from Chasing Rainbows: The Road to OZ at Paper Mill Playhouse
The New Jersey premiere of the new musical Chasing Rainbows: The Road to OZ began performances on September 26th, 2019 and continues through Sunday, October 27th. The official opening night is set for this Sunday, October 6th after playing a week of previews. Chasing Rainbows: The Road to OZ has a book by Marc Acito, musical adaption and additional music by Davie Libby and was conceived by and additional lyrics by Tina Marie Casamento.
Chasing Rainbows: The Road OZ is a poignant coming-of-age tale about "the little girl with the big voice," who went on to become one of the world's most beloved entertainment icons. This new highly anticipated musical chronicles Judy Garland's early career from vaudeville baby to MGM teen star in the making, the road to OZ is paved with adversity.
The show has already had the blessing from the one person who's opinion matters most--Liza Minnelli, one of the two daughters of Judy Garland. Minnelli said, "My mother said that her biography is in her music, and now a talented creative team is using that music to tell the story of her early years and her extraordinary rise to fame."
The principal cast features Ruby Rakos as Judy Garland/Frances Gumm, Max Von Essen as Frank Gumm, Lesli Marghertia as Ethel Gumm, Karen Mason as Ma Lawlor/Kay Koverman, Stephen DeRosa as Louis B. Mayer, Michael Wartella as Mickey Rooney, and Colin Hanlon as Roger Edens.
Production photos from Chasing Rainbows: The Road to OZ at Paper Mill Playhouse
Rounding out the cast are Tia Altinay, Mackenzie Bell, Kristen Grace Brown, Lamont Brown, Joe Cassidy, Clara Cox, Tessa Grady, Sophie Knapp, Molly Lyons, Kimberly Immanuel, Christina Maxwell, Kevin B. McGlynn, Allsun O’Malley, Samantha Joy Pearlman, Drew Redington, Joshua J. Schwartz, Parker Slaybaugh, Sean Thompson, Violet Tinnirello and Kathy Voytko.
The creative team includes direction and chreography by Tony award nominee Denis Jones, Orchestrations by Larry Blank and David Libby, music direction by Lawrence Yurman, scenic design by Alexander Dodge, costume design by Linda Cho, lighting design by Japhy Weiderman, sound design by Matt Kraus, projection design by Charles G. LaPointe and makeup design by Dena Oliveri. John Fricke serves as creative consultant and casting is by Tara Rubin Casting.