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 - Erica Berger
THE CREW
Production Company - Wasatch Theatre Company
Director - Adam Cannon
Assistant Director/Stage Manager - Cara Baker
Lighting Design -
Set and Props Design - Kaden Vidovic-Jones
Costune Design - Abby Shelley
Intimacy Coordination - Jim Martin
Special Thanks: Salt Lake City Arts Council, Salt Lake County Arts and Culture, the Zoo Arts and Parks Initiative,
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
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