‘The Wizard of Oz’ Touches Down at Westmoreland Sanctuary
The Westmoreland Sanctuary Nature Center & Wildlife Preserve in Mount Kisco is known for its educational programs and 640 acres of wilderness that are open to the public, but it has also become known for family-friendly outdoor theater productions.
On the heels of being named “Best Theater Under the Sky” by Westchester Magazine for last year’s production of “Into the Woods,” the preserve will host several community theater performances this month of the classic “The Wizard of Oz” starting Friday night.
Westmoreland Sanctuary Director Ann Paul said theater productions has been one way to attract diverse visitors to enjoy the preserve, one of the original goals of founder Helen Clay Frick. Frick, daughter of late 19th century industrialist Henry Clay Frick, donated the sanctuary’s original 30 acres in 1957.
“You can always come and hike on seven and a half miles of trails with free parking and our free museum,” Paul said. “But we’d really like to bring in a different audience that perhaps doesn’t always come to our hiking trails.”
The preserve is also hosting a performance of William Shakespeare’s comedy “Twelfth Night” later this year.
“The Wizard of Oz,” directed by Denise Simon and produced by Carolyn Nielson, will be performed July 22, 23, 24, 29, 30 and 31. Proceeds from ticket sales will support the environmental education and conservation programs at the sanctuary, attended by about 10,000 youths annually.
“We will also have a pre-show where kids can get their face painted like their favorite Wizard of Oz character,” she said. “There will also be bubble wands you can get to allow them to be part of the show. Certain kids will be asked to participate and become a flying monkey or something like that. It’s a highly interactive show.”
The show will take place in two separate locations, Paul explained.
“The audience is going to walk with the characters along the Yellow Brick Road to Oz, through the twister, and they’ll end up in Oz,” she said.
Tickets are $20 for sanctuary members, $22 for the general public and $12 for children 12 years old and under. They can be purchased online in advance at www.westmorelandsanctuary.com.
The preserve and the theater production are located at 260 Chestnut Ridge Rd. in Mount Kisco.
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