Geva Theatre Announces Cast & Creative Team of THE WIZARD OF OZ

Starring RuPaul’s Drag Race ‘s Rosé as Glinda
and Savy Jackson as Dorothy

Rochester, N.Y. —  Geva Theatre welcomes Rosé from  RuPaul’s Drag Race and Savy Jackson from Bad Cinderella on Broadway to Rochester  for the opening production of  the 23/24 Season, director  Zi Alikhan ’s newly re-envisioned  production of the classic  musical The Wizard of Oz .

•  Rosé ,  she/her , a finalist on Season 13 of  RuPaul’s  Drag Race , currently gracing the  nation in the Werk The World Tour, will star as Aunt Em and Glinda in Geva Theatre’s  production of  The Wizard of Oz.  The multi-talented  entertainer was last seen in the  award-winning Off-Broadway stage hit,  Titanique.
•  Savy Jackson ,  they/she , who recently debuted on Broadway  in  Andrew Lloyd  Webber’s  Bad Cinderella  and portrayed Cinderella every  Sunday to rave reviews, will  star as Dorothy Gale. Savy has performed in the First National Tour of  Once on this  Island  as the standby for the lead role of TiMoune.

 The Wizard of Oz , written by L. Frank Baum, with music  and lyrics by Harold Arlen and  E.Y Harburg, tells the story of Dorothy Gale as she travels to the magical land of Oz.

•  Director  Zi Alikhan,  he/him,  brings a new lens to  the beloved family friendly musical,  centering LGBTQ+ performers in this story about going over the rainbow, coming into  who you truly are, and finding your chosen family.  The Wizard of Oz  will run in the  Wilson Theatre from August 30 through October 1st.

 “We’re so delighted to welcome Director Zi Alikhan back to Geva as he works with this  remarkable team to bring to life a thrilling new vision for  The Wizard of Oz !” said Artistic  Director Elizabeth Williamson. “Rosé, Savy, and the rest of this brilliant cast are bringing  such exciting new interpretations to the classic songs, that I know you’ll feel, as I do,  that you’re hearing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” “Come Out, Come Out, Wherever  You Are,” and “We’re Off to See the Wizard” for the first time!”

 Geva Theatre welcomes back critically acclaimed director  Zi Alikhan  he/him  to helm  the production. Zi was last seen at Geva in Season 50 for  Somewhere  by Matthew  López and recently directed Paper Mill Playhouse’s production of  RENT .  Phil Colgan  he/him  ( New York, New York,  Broadway) will join as  Choreographer, with  Anessa Marie  she/her  ( Chicago,  Broadway) as the Music Director.  Rochester-based dancer and  choreographer  Jayme Bermudez  he/him  (Borinquen Dance  Theatre) will be working  with the team as the Associate Director and Associate Choreographer.

 In addition to  Rosé  she/her  ( Titanique , Off-Broadway;  iCarly , TV) and  Savy Jackson  they/she  
(Once on this Island , First National Tour;  Hood,  Asolo Repertory Theatre ), the  talented cast includes

• Jennifer Sanchez  she/her  as  Elmira Gulch/The Wicked Witch of  the West ( Pretty Woman , Broadway;  Sunday in The Park  with George , Broadway),
•  Easton Michaels  they/she  as Hunk/Scarecrow ( HAIR,  Weston Theatre Company; Rough Trade,  Weston Theatre Company),
•  Pauli Pontrelli  they/them/ze/zir  as Zeke/Cowardly Lion ( The Trees,  Playwrights Horizons;  The Visitor , The Public),
•  Barnaby Reiter  he/him  as Hickory/Tin Man ( Hairspray ,  Australasian Tour;  Jersey Boys, National Tour),  Kathel Louis Griffin  they/them/he/him  as Uncle Henry/Guard ( PLAY ON,  Off-Broadway;  Mary Poppins,  Beck Center for the  Arts), and Rochester’s own
• Thomas Warfield  he/him  (Joffrey Ballet, Met Opera)  as Professor Marvel/Wizard of Oz, making his Geva Theatre debut

The ensemble includes  

• Jordan Alexander  he/him  ( Pretty  Woman , First National Tour)  and  Faye Telemaco-Beane  they/she  ( Cinderella,  Walnut  Street Theatre ). Geva is  thrilled to partner with the college training programs in the Greater Rochester Area and  we are proud to  include  Renee Haley  she/her  ( Into  the Woods , Nazareth College),
•  Kelsey Madison  she/her  ( Into the Woods , SUNY Geneseo),  
• Abbie C. Morgan  she/her ( The Spitfire Grill,  Nazareth College),  
• Emma Theriot  they/she/he  (Collective Rage ,  Nazareth College),  and  J. Jake Thomas  he/him  ( Cinderella,  Geva Theatre) as  members of the ensemble.

 The creative team also includes  

• Jenni Werner  she/her  ( we are continuous , Geva Theatre) as Dramaturg,
• Scenic Design  by  Mark Wendland  he/him  ( Next to Normal , Broadway) and  
• Theron Wineinger  he/him  ( The Great Hunger,  The Tank),
• Costume Design by  Lux Haac  she/her  ( The Thanksgiving Play ,  Broadway),
• Lighting Design by Cha See  all pronouns  ( What to Send Up When It Goes  Down , Playwrights
•  Horizons/BAM, ART NY),
• Sound Design by  Ryan Hickey  he/him  ( The Color Purple, Signature Theatre),
• Projection Design by  Nicholas  Hussong  he/him  ( Skeleton Crew , Broadway),
• Puppetry Design by  Emma Wiseman  she/her  ( Out of Office,  Chattanooga  Film Festival), and Wig & Makeup Design by  Brittany  Hartman  she/her  ( The  Thanksgiving Play,  Broadway).
• Geva Theatre welcomes  Talia Kripsel  she/her  ( The Lonely  Few , Geffen Playhouse) as  the Production Stage Manager,
• and welcomes back  Julia  Bregy  she/her  ( Ain’t  Misbehavin’ , Geva Theatre) as the Assistant Stage  Manager.
• The Stage Management  team will also include  Katherine Thesing  she/her  ( Russian  Troll Farm , Geva Theatre) 
• and  Shannon Toot  she/her  ( A Christmas Carol ,  Geva  Theatre).

 Produced in conjunction with the production of  The  Wizard of Oz , the  Engagement  Department at Geva  will host  the  Over the Rainbow  Brunch  on  August 12 from 11  am – 1 pm.  This free event  centers good food, queer  fellowship, and an exploration of  the question – as LGBTQ+ people, how do we find our authentic voices, and live our  lives out and proud? For more information visit our  website .

 Stop by on September 12 following the performance of  The Wizard of Oz  for Geva  Insights with Amanda Ashley Rodriguez from Girls Rock! Rochester, Jayme Bermudez,  our associate director and associate choreographer for  The Wizard of Oz , and Brittan

 Hardgers from Next Generation Men of Transition. Listen to them discuss their personal

 “Over the Rainbow” journeys. Our final engagement event for  The Wizard of Oz  is

 Mondays at Geva on September 18, which features the amazing fine art photography of  Cocoa Rae, as well as a “Kiki Ball” (think of POSE performances in Geva’s lobby!). The  categories will be Brains, Heart, and Courage. To learn more about these fabulous, free  events visit  Engagement at Geva .

 The Wizard of Oz  begins performances on August 30  and runs on the Wilson Stage  through October 01. Tickets can be purchased online at gevatheatre.org, or by phone,  585-232-GEVA(4382).

 The Wizard of Oz  adapted by John Kane for the Royal  Shakespeare Company, based  upon the Classic Motion Picture owned by Turner Entertainment distributed by Warner  Bros. features background music by Herbert Stothart. It includes dance and vocal  arrangements by Peter Howard with Orchestration by Larry Wilcox.  The Wizard of Oz  is  presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC.  www.concordtheatricals.com

 About Geva Theatre Center

 Founded in 1972, Geva Theatre Center is a not-for-profit, professional theatre company  dedicated to creating and producing singular theatre productions and programs that  serve the Rochester region and beyond, by illuminating the fullness of our many human  experiences.

 The 516-seat Elaine P. Wilson Stage is home to a wide variety of performances, from  musicals to American and world classics. The 180-seat Ron & Donna Fielding Stage is  home to Geva’s series of contemporary drama, comedy, musical theatre, and new play  development programs.  In addition, the Fielding Stage hosts visiting companies of both  local and international renown.

 Geva offers a wide variety of educational, engagement, and literary programs,  nurturing  audiences and artists alike. Geva Theatre Center sits on the ancestral and unceded  territory of the  Onödowáʼga , or “the people of the  Great Hill.” In English, they are known  as the Seneca people, “the keeper of the western door.” They have stewarded this land  through generations, and Geva pays respect and gives thanks to their elders, past and  present.

 Geva is under the leadership of Artistic Director Elizabeth Williamson (she/her) and  Executive Director Christopher Mannelli (he/him).

 Find out more about Geva Theatre Center at GevaTheatre.org or by connecting with us  on social media. Facebook: facebook.com/gevatheatrecenter, Instagram:  @gevatheatre, LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/geva-theatre-center.