BEFORE OZ
by Lauren Grove
This show is approximately 2 hours 25 minutes including intermission.
THE CAST
Frank - Eli West
Maud/Mrs. Baum - Cimony Carter
Matilda/Bernice - Selah DeGering
Thomas - Mitch Tyler^
Sarah/Mary/Louise/ Townsperson - Lauren Allen
Dorothy - Eden Miramontes
Bill/Doctor/Townsperson - Brad Goodman
Lenny/Cleetus - Zel McAllister
Bert/Townsperson - Daniel Cook
Harry and Others - Dustin Hardeback
Robbie and Others - Koda Smith
Nurse Peggy/Mrs. Bolger - Kennedy Madsen
THE CREW
Production Company - Wasatch Theatre Company
Director - Adam Cannon
Assistant Director/Stage Manager - Cara Baker
Stage Manager - Allyn Fry
Lighting Design - Amber Knaras
Set and Props Design - Kaden Vidovic-Jones
Costume Design - Abby Shelley
^ Member, WTC Ensemble
Special Thanks: Salt Lake City Arts Council, Salt Lake County Arts and Culture, the Zoo Arts and Parks Initiative, Abby Broadbent, Empress Theatre (see ad below)
Lauren Grove is an award-winning director and playwright, and has been a performing arts instructor for over twenty years. She earned her B.S. in Speech Communication and Theatre from Millersville University and her MFA in Theatre and Playwriting from the University of Idaho. Lauren is the writer of plays such as the award-winning And the Crew Plays On, Silver Belles, and the highly acclaimed Before Oz. She has worked in varying facets of theatre education, having taught and directed productions for the elementary school, middle school, high school, community, and professional demographics. Lauren is thrilled to be bringing her passion for the performing arts to theatre lovers of all ages!
Adam has been involved in theater since his high school days, appearing in many community, collegiate, and semi-professional productions. He has loved his time onstage in such productions as Little Shop of Horrors, Spamalot, Li’l Abner, Carnival, Once Upon a Mattress and The Crucible (among others. For the past several years he has found his passion as a director, directing such shows as Matilda, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Once Upon a Mattress, Sirens, War of the Worlds, Hairspray, My Fair Lady, the Utah Premiere of the Frank Wildhorn musical Bonnie & Clyde, Bye, Bye Birdie, Annie, and many others. He also loves working backstage as a Stage Manager or Technical director for a number of shows: Peter and the Starcatcher, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Wizard of Oz, Les Miserables, Fiddler on the Roof, and many others. Most of all, his wife and family have supported his love of (obsession with) theater for all these years.
Koda has been in a number of plays this past year, including Peter and the Starcatcher and Puffs at the Empress as well as Romeo and Juliet at the Tooele Valley Theatre. This is his first time with the Wasatch Theatre Company, and he is ecstatic to be playing Robbie in Before Oz
Zel McAllister is delighted to be performing with Wasatch Theatre Company! She was previously seen as Lenore in Nightfall (West Valley Arts) and The Woman in Woman in Black (Covey Center for the Arts). Zel studied theatre at UVU and SOU. When not on stage, or working at an elementary school, she can be found in the company of senior foster dogs from The Golden Bark Foundation. She is so excited for you to meet this wonderful cast of characters in this sweet little story. She sends her love to her supportive husband and parents who encouraged her to study theatre. Enjoy the show!
Cimony Carter is thrilled to join this production of Before Oz as Maude/Mrs. Baum. Recent productions include Amadeus (Regalo), Christmas Carol (Parker Theatre), Pride and Prejudice (EMCT). When not onstage, Cimony can be found enjoying farm life with her husband and three children.
Lauren is thrilled to be making her Wasatch Theatre Company debut! The Oz stories have always been a big part of her life, so doing this show has been a very special experience. Lauren has been involved in theatre for almost 20 years, and studied acting at BYU-I and Idaho State University. Some of her favorite on stage roles include Abigail Williams (The Crucible), Friar Francis (Much Ado About Nothing), Gertrude (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead), Catherine Connelly (The Laramie Project), and Alice (The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever). She is grateful to the cast and crew for making this experience so wonderful, and to her husband for his never-ending support and encouragement.
Eden is a confident, friendly actor who delights in storytelling. She’s thrilled to be participating in this production. Favorite past roles include Mary in The Secret Garden and Catherine in The Thief and the Lady. Her interests include animals, acting, and travel.
Eli is thrilled to help bring this story to life. Portraying L. Frank Baum has been an unexpected and rewarding journey, one he didn’t know he needed. He made his onstage debut at the age of two in The Nutcracker Ballet, and theatre has remained a constant and meaningful part of his life ever since. Some of his favorite credits include Sam/Orfeo in Sonia Flew (University of Wyoming), Robert De Lesseps in Shakespeare in Love (West Valley Arts), Charles Clark in Titanic: The Musical, and Charlie Brown in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (OPPA).Eli extends his gratitude to the cast and crew, and a heartfelt thank-you to his wife for her unwavering love and support. He promises he’ll slow down after this one… maybe. Enjoy the show!
Brad A. Goodman (Bill) — Brad is thrilled to be part of the Utah Premiere of this beautiful, poignant show. Before relocating to Utah earlier this year, Brad spent nearly two decades onstage and behind the scenes with Cheyenne Little Theatre Players and other regional companies, devoting himself to the art of storytelling and championing the communities that make theatre shine. Since arriving in Utah, he has jumped wholeheartedly into its vibrant creative scene, most recently appearing at The Empress Theatre in Once Upon a Mattress and Peter & the Starcatcher. By day, Brad works in HR; by night, he’s fueled by imagination, collaboration, and the unwavering encouragement of his Husbear. Brad is deeply grateful to Wasatch Theatre Company for welcoming him into a new creative home and honored to share the stage with such a wildly talented group of theatre-makers. Thank you for supporting live theatre—and may your journey Before Oz remind you that even the smallest spark of wonder can burst into a world of color.
Dustin Hardeback--no bio available
Mitch Tyler is proud and excited to be a part of this touching story for the holidays. A WTC mainstay, he most recently directed and starred in 'Dog Sees God', along with performing in 'Freaks of the Cosmic Circus' and George Plautz's 'Short Shorts' as part of the 2023 Page to Stage Festival. Some of his other most recent credits include '4-29-99: A Story of Columbine', 'Goth Hamlet' with Lark and Loon Theatre Co., 'Children of War' at The Hive Collaborative with Poet's Star Theatre Co., 'The Bald Soprano' with Threepenny Theatre Co., and 'Much Ado About Nothing' with EMCT. He hopes you enjoy the magic he and his castmates have to offer you tonight.
Selah DeGering is a practiced theatre maker with experience in acting, directing, designing, producing, and a degree in playwriting from BYU. Recent credits include performing in a cast roulette of A Midsummer Night's Dream, directing a self-produced original script, Children of War, and acting as the title role in Shakespeare's King Lear. Upcoming work for Selah slates a new production with Wasatch Theater Company, an original script called A Dozen Roses: A Modern Gothic, and an unaffiliated workshop of her most recent script, Art is Isaac.
Daniel Cook--no bio available
Brian Sheets is a freelance Digital Media Specialist with a Bachelor's degree from UVU. Dabbling in everything from film, audio, instructional design, web development, creative and technical writing, marketing, and logo creation and design, he has his wife to thank for her love, support, and patience to utilize his degree in pursuit of his dreams. Brian also has a hobbyists' background in music and theater, and is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the success of this beautiful story.
Jim Martin has an MFA in theatre arts from the University of Idaho at Moscow, where he continues to take classes to keep his knowledge and skills fresh. Jim started Wasatch in 1997 and continues as the Executive Director to this day. He has directed numerous shows including King James, The Final Act, and JQA. Jim dedicates this performance to his amazing 88 year-old dad (also named Jim), his son Jayden, his two dogs, and his two cats for all their sacrifices.
WTC Board of Directors
Hugh Hanson
Jennifer Harward
Jim Martin
Katie Smith
Phillip Vernon
Hugh Hanson
Jennifer Harward
Jim Martin
Katie Smith
Phillip Vernon
