Theater News

Goodspeed Musicals Set to Begin Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz

The new musical follows Judy Garland’s journey from a tough childhood to the Emerald City.

Ruby Rakos stars as Judy Garland and Michael Wartella stars as Mickey Rooney in Chasing Rainbows: The Road to 
Oz, directed by Tyne Rafaeli, at Goodspeed Musicals.
Ruby Rakos stars as Judy Garland and Michael Wartella stars as Mickey Rooney in Chasing Rainbows: The Road to
Oz
, directed by Tyne Rafaeli, at Goodspeed Musicals.
(© Diane Sobolewski)

Chasing Rainbows: The Road to
Oz
begins performances tonight at Goodspeed Musicals.

An awkward girl with a golden voice blossoms into Judy Garland in this new musical about the bumpy road to Oz. The future superstar's complicated childhood comes alive with the music that made her famous. "I Can't Give You Anything but Love," "You Made Me Love You," and "Over the Rainbow" tell the story of Judy striving to hold on to her family.

Chasing Rainbows was conceived by Tina Marie Casamento Libby and features a book by Marc Acito (Allegiance). David Libby adapted the music. John Fricke serves as a creative consultant and historian for the project. Tyne Rafaeli (first national tour of Bridges of Madison County) directs.

Ruby Rakos (Billy Elliot: The Musical) will don the famous ruby slippers as Judy Garland. She is joined by Kevin Earley (Les Misérables) as Frank Gumm, Sally Wilfert (Assassins) as Ethel Gumm, Michael Wartella (Tuck Everlasting) as Mickey Rooney, Michael McCormick (Chaplin) as L.B. Mayer, Karen
Mason (Mamma Mia!) as Ma Lawlor/Kay Koverman, Gary Milner (Doctor Zhivago) as Roger Edens/George Jessel, Ella Briggs as Baby Frances Gumm, Piper Birney (national tour of How the Grinch Stole Christmas) as Young Virginia Gumm, and Lea Mancarella as Shirley Temple.

The ensemble includes Lissa deGuzman, Colby Dezelick, Jennifer Evans, Berklea Going, Claire Griffin, Jordana Grolnick, Michael Hartung, Dan Higgins, Lucy Horton, Bryan Thomas Hunt, Andrea Laxton, Danny Lindgren, and Jesse Sharp. The swings are Joseph Fierberg and Elise Mestichelli.

The production staff includes Kristen Robinson (scenic design), Elizabeth Caitlin Ward (costume design), Ken Billington (lighting design), Jay Hilton (sound design), and Mark Adam Rampmeyer (hair and wig design). Michael O’Flaherty serves as music director with Bill Thomas as assistant music director and orchestrations by Dan DeLange.

Performances run through November 27.

For more information and tickets, click here.

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