This is what so many Toronto theatre lovers, young and old, wait for every year. Ross Petty Productions presents THE WIZARD OF OZ – The Toto-ly Twistered Family Musical. Strapping on the famous ruby slippers will be Camille Eanga Selenge (The Book of Mormon / Broadway and Australia), as the adventure-bound and homesick Dorothy. Swept up from their home on Ossington Avenue (in one of those twisters that the West End is known for), Dorothy and her dog Toto must find their way back home…with a little help from some friends along the way.

If you haven’t been to a Ross Petty Productions holiday event yet, you have no idea what you are missing. While this is always fun for the whole family, and the kids enjoy booing the villains, there are always enough off-the-cuff adult one-liners to make the mommy and daddy forget this was originally a Disney production. Also, the exclusive “commercials” for the production partners fit in perfectly, created with the help of the show’s characters. So bring your children, your significant other, and even bring your grandparents. A hoot is guaranteed!

  

The funniest trio with more courage, heart, and brains since the Three Stooges will help Dorothy along her journey. Matt Nethersole (Grand Hotel / Shaw Festival,) will play the brainy-yet-clueless Scarecrow; Eric Craig (Matilda: The Musical / Mirvish) will be the original Man of Steel as the Tin Man; and Daniel Williston (Kinky Boots / Mirvish) will put on his bravest face as the Cowardly Lion.

Their evil nemesis, Sara-Jeanne Hosie (Wild Party/Musical Stage Co.) will grab her broom and kick up a storm as the infamous ‘Wicked’ Witch of the West. Petty panto veterans, choreographer and director Tracey Flye, and fan-favorite Eddie Glen (currently being fitted with monkey wings) return for their 17th and 16th respective fun-fest with Ross Petty Productions.

Ross Petty                      Credit: Post City Magazine

A Message From Founder, Ross Petty

For our 23rd production at the historic Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre, we’ve assembled an amazing cast of Canada’s finest musical theatre performers. Camille Eanga-Selenge leads the way in her ruby high tops along with her actual canine companion Olive, making her theatrical stage debut as Toto.

Perennial favourite Eddie Glen returns as the Wizard himself in his 16th Panto. Eddie creates comic gold in his scenes with the haughty and hilarious Sara-Jeanne Hosie as the Wicked Witch of the West.

Michael DeRose is the indelibly audacious Good Witch of the North (GWOTN), SugarBum, continuing the Pantos’ deliciously delirious relationship with members of the Bum family.

In watching the past few weeks of rehearsal, it strikes me that the Tin Man, Scarecrow and Lion make a perfect metaphor for the current U.S. administration. If Mr. Trump and his enablers had a modicum of the heart, brains and courage of our theatrical characters, the world would be a much happier and safer place.

This December is an unusually busy time for my company. In combination with the live theatrical run of THE WIZARD OF OZ, last year’s production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL will play as a national TV special on Family Channel with its first airing Friday November 30 at 7pm. That will be followed by a CBC-TV national special on Sunday December 16 at 6pm. Visit www.family.ca for more December viewings of A CHRISTMAS CAROL.

Read a recent interview with Ross Petty in Zoomer Magazine.

Tickets for THE WIZARD OF OZ – The Toto-ly Twistered Family Musical are on sale now but don’t wait too long, the whole lollipop guild are already standing in line to see the show!

Follow the yellow brick road to the Elgin Theatre in Toronto for the 23rd annual fractured fairytale!

OPENING NIGHT: Thursday, December 6, 2018 @ 7pm
Most evening performances begin at 7pm and matinees at 2pm
For a complete performance schedule visit rosspetty.com
Ticket prices range from $27-$99 Adults • $27-$69 Children under 12 • $256 Family 4-Pack
Tickets can be purchased online, by phone at 1.855.599.9090, or in person – Elgin Theatre Box Office, 189 Yonge Street
On stage until January 5, 2019

Social Media
Facebook: @RossPettyProductions • IG: @rosspettypro • Twitter: @rosspettypro
#wizardofozTO

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, lifestyle, entertainment and hospitality. He has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He enjoys discovering delicious eats, tasting spirited treats, and being mesmerized by musical beats.