The Patchwork Girl Of Oz
(original Dance/multimedia work 1hour 7′)
An updated version of The Patchwork Girl of Oz is also in our present repertory. More information.
Sections Premiered 3/01 to 11/22/02, developed over a 2 1/2 year period, so different dancers premiered each act.
Direction, Choreography, Adaptation from the 1913 book by L. Frank Baum: Louise Reichlin
Costumes: Linda Borough
Tin Woodman Video: Shinji Murakoshi
Act 1 animation: Richard Wainess & his USC multimedia class
Act 2 video: Michael Masucci
Stage characters Created through improvisations: Reichlin & the Orig. Dancers
Official world premier complete work: Helena Presents/ Myrna Loy Center
Myrna Loy Theater, Helena, MN
Mandy Langen: Original Patchwork Girl
Yuki Tomino: Original Ogo
Jennifer Flanagan Original Glass Cat
Carlene Lai: Original Dorothy Gale & Crooked Magician
Shelby Williams: Original Dame Margolotte & Woozy
Allan McCormick Original Unc Nunkie
Karen Acosta Original Glinda I
Katina Childs Original Glinda 2
Steven Nielsen: Original Tin Man, Wizard, World Premier,
Janell Burgess: Act II Premier, Patchwork Girl
Adrienne Fisher Act II Premier, Ogo
Shaun Curtin: Act II Premier Glinnis
Brian Pelletier Act II Premier- Crooked Magician & Wizard
Tara Page: World Premier Patchwork Girl
Tina Tsunoda: World Premier, Ogo
Will-son Williams: World Premier Unc Nunckie, The Shaggy Man, The Champion Hip Hopper
Ellen Rosa: World Premier Dorothy Gale & The Glass Cat
Shannon Schwait: World Premier Dame Margolotte & Woozy
Elizabeth Brookman: World Premier Glinda
Sarah Sydney Jenkins World Premier Scarecrow
Natalie Pausch: CA Premier Dorothy Gale
Press Quotes
"It's a credit to Louise Reichlin and Dancers that the artistic director-choreographer would have the courage to update a classic by the author of The Wizard of Oz and ... get away with it. Bonnets off to Reichlin, then, and her hard-working troupe on their take on the lesser-known L. Frank Baum story The Patchwork Girl of Oz …colorful costumes pleased and there was a certain naive quality that grabbed at the heart... a lot going on choreographically to sate a dance lover's appetite--sunny leaps and marching motifs prevailed… jubilant dancing." A two-part multimedia program performed Sunday at USC's Alfred Newman Recital Hall."
"You touched the lives of 2,480 people from the Casper area with your excellence."
"The choreography uses a wonderfully playful approach...along with sophisticated multimedia... the music a delightful surprise, lively, a bit exotic, and an excellent combination of Eastern and Western influences."
"I was thrilled to present The Patchwork Girl of Oz at two of our performing arts centers in June! The show has such a broad appeal and has attracted local dance enthusiasts as well as families.
Gallery
Video
From showcase at Jazz at Lincoln Center
General excerpts
Current version at Mark Taper Auditorium