Here is a story from Syracuse.com's entertainment blog on the opening of Wicked in Syracuse this week. Don't forget that you can experience all things Oz in Chittenango year round and in June at the annual Oz-Stravaganza. What Chittenango native L. Frank Baum wrote as a children’s book has been a rich vein for creativity throughout the ages. “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” on page begat a musical on Broadway, then a story on the silver screen. Recently, there came a prequel novel that inspired the Broadway musical “Wicked.” The latest takes start with an unlikely character, the Wicked Witch of the West. Her story comes to life with the touring company of “Wicked,” which arrives in Syracuse Wednesday for 24 performances. The story on stage plucks its outline loosely from the dark book by Gregory Maguire, “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” which was published in 1995. Writer Winnie Holzman and composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz took it from there and delivered the musical on Broadway in 2003. It went on to win three Tony Awards. “It was Gregory’s premise that really was our jumping-off point. ... It was that premise of seeing the Wicked Witch as a full-blown person with her own psychology, of looking at things from her point of view, that I found so powerful and that Stephen found so powerful,” says Holzman during a recent phone interview from her Los Angeles-area home. Terrible, behind-the-scenes things happen in the book, and the Wicked Witch, who is first known as Elphaba, is vilified for fighting these forces, explains Holzman. “It means you have to rethink everything you thought you knew about her,” says Holzman, who has had an illustrious career as a writer of such critically acclaimed TV shows as “thirtysomething” and “My So-Called Life.” courtesy of Joan MarcusWinnie Holzman wrote the book for the musical "Wicked." She also has written plays and for film. Long before “wicked” is attached to her name, Elphaba is a complicated girl, tinged in green. Her world is further upended when she arrives at Shiz University, rooms with her polar opposite, perky and popular Glinda, meets a boy and is introduced to the Wizard of Oz. As they mined Maguire’s book and considered the Oz lineage, Holzman says she and Schwartz were uncertain at times. “When you’re writing something you’re in a dark wood. I mean you truly are trying to find your way. And in trying to find our way of what is this story and exactly what is this, it became clear at some point it was really about both of them (Elphaba and Glinda). ... It became more interesting when it was about both of them.” Holzman reveals this difficulty in distilling the musical’s story as clanking competes with the conversation. “I’m doing something very selfish,” she says. “I’m trying to do dishes while we’re talking.” Elphaba and Glinda, despite their differences, do forge a friendship. But, it fractures in time. The competitive young witches also share a common ambition — to become famous. “In many ways, a lot of what the musical is about is power and what it really means to have power. And what true power is. What is fake power and what is real power. The whole idea of power is how do you hold it. What does it mean to really be powerful,” says Holzman. The writer respected Elphaba’s place in storybook lore. “She’s a very important American character. She’s very famous. So is Glinda, of course. And, so is the Wizard of Oz. And they’re all beloved. And when you’re entrusted with characters that are beloved on that level, you feel very humbled by that. You don’t want to interfere with people’s enjoyment. We wanted to add to enjoyment, not diminish it, to say the least,” says Holzman as laughter ripples forth. On one level, “Wicked” can be enjoyed as a zippy, high-flying musical. But it also is grounded in issues of morality, principled behavior, persecution, loyalty, repressive political regimes, revisionist history, physical and philosophical differences and ambiguities. Courtesy photoThe 1939 movie "The Wizard of Oz." The original book and movie cast a huge shadow for the writing duo. “We wanted to take our rightful place and kind of be in that long line of things that had come out of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ of L. Frank Baum and not seem as though we were making fun of the movie or somehow cheapening the movie.” Honoring the legacy of the 1939 film, starring Judy Garland, was “psychologically intense,” she says. “But, at the same time, it was thrilling because you’re working with characters that are so beloved that people already care about (them) deeply. And that’s part of what Gregory’s genius was. To take those characters and to play further with them (with people who are) so emotionally involved with them. It’s a great opportunity.” Holzman did take liberties with language. She created an Oz vocabulary, which is oddly familiar. Some of these words are tongue twisters: confusifying, scandalacious, festivating, manifestorium. “It is a little confusifying,” she says. “I just felt like if they talked exactly like we talk in our world, we won’t be in Oz.” If ever there was a place on earth where Holzman’s land of Oz and its citizenry will not be confusifying, it is here in Baum’s homeland. THE DETAILS What: “Wicked,” Famous Artists Broadway Theater Series presentation. When: Wednesday to Jan. 31. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday Jan. 17, 19, 20, 24 and 26 to 28; 2 p.m. Thursday, Saturday, Jan. 17, 23, 24, 28, 30 and 31; 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Jan. 22, 23, 29 and 30. American Sign Language interpreted performance at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 28. Running time: 2 hours, 45 minutes, including intermission. Where: Crouse-Hinds Theater, John H. Mulroy Civic Center, 411 Montgomery St., Syracuse. Tickets: $40 to $135. To purchase, Famous Artists, 424-8210; Oncenter, 435-2121; Ticketmaster, 800-745-3000 or the Ticketmaster Web site. Parent guide: “Wicked” is appropriate for children 8 years and older. Children 4 years and younger will not be admitted. Orchestra seats: TICKET LOTTERY A day-of-performance lottery will be held for a limited number of orchestra seats. To participate, arrive 2½ hours before show time at the Civic Center box office entrance on Montgomery Street. Your name will be placed in a lottery drum. Thirty minutes later, names will be drawn for seats at $25 each, cash only. You must be present for the lottery drawing at the box office. There is a limit of two tickets per person. Chittenango to Celebrate Clarence Swenson 12/09/2009
December 29th is Clarence Swensen Day in Chittenango. Clarence was a Munchkin Soldier in the 1939 MGM movie, “The Wizard of Oz”, and a beloved visitor to Chittenango for almost twenty years. Swensen passed away in early 2009. His birthday was chosen by the Village as the day in which to honor his memory in a Proclamation read at Oz-Stravaganza! 2009. Proclamations were read by Mayor Goeler, Assemblyman McGee, and Senator Valesky to Swensen’s family during the event’s Grand Finale. As a way for the people of Chittenango to honor and remember Swensen, the Oz-Stravaganza! Committee, in conjunction with The Sullivan Free Library, is having a reception and showing of “The Terror of Tiny Town”, Tuesday, December 29, 2009. The world’s first (and only) all midget musical western, 1938’s “The Terror of Tiny Town” is a classic. Swensen played several parts in the movie. “In one scene, I’m chasing myself.” Swensen once recalled. “I’m the stagecoach driver and the bad guy”. Other actors from “The Wizard of Oz” included in the movie are Fern Formica, aka Jeannette Fern, who attended Chittenango’s Oz parade for several years, and Karl Slover, Munchkin Trumpeter, who portrayed Sammy The Barber. A free and open to the public reception in honor of Clarence begins at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 29 in the Community Room of the Sullivan Free Library. Refreshments will be served and memories of Clarence shared prior to the movie. The movie will begin promptly at 6:00 pm and includes popcorn. The movie is especially enjoyable for families with children ages 10 and up. For further information, call Colleen at 415-8546 or Barb at 430-0765. Oz-Stravaganza Costume Contest Slideshow 06/08/2009
We were up bright and early Saturday morning to catch the launch of Airborne Adventure's balloon from Oz-Stravaganza. It was a perfect morning and Pilot Dwight Cramer and crew took 5 people up up and away for a ride over Chittenango and northern Madison County. Below is a slide show highlighting the launch.  The big Oz-Stravaganza weekend is upon us and the village of Chittenango is buzzing with excitement as rides are being set up, vendors are arriving and visitors from near and far are preparing to celebrate all things Oz this weekend. The highlights of the weekend include the costume contest and parade on Saturday, the rides all weekend long and autograph sessions with the Munchkins too. For the complete schedule of happenings click here. IT should be a fun weekend and don't forget the parade starts at 2pm sharp on Saturday. Oz-Stravaganza is not the only event happening in Madison County this weekend. Here are some other highlight for your weekend: 1. Friday-Sunday -- The Madison and Bouckville Antique Dealers host their annual spring antique show. Dozens of dealers will be selling their wares along US Route 20. It is a great opportunity to find hidden treasures for your home. 2. The Earlville Opera House is hosting John Hammond, an Acoustic Blues Extraordinaire, on Saturday evening at 8pm. Tickets are available for $22 for Adults, $20 for Opera House Members and $17 for students. 3. The Smithfield Community Center is the host for the Lincoln and the Civil War Concert on Saturday night as well. The 77th N.Y. Regimental Balladeers present a special evening concert Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory: Lincoln and the Music of the Civil War at the historic Smithfield Community Center at 8 p.m. A slide show accompanies the music which includes song, melodies and verse that streamed from the pens of some of America's most famous song writers of the 1860s. In honor of the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth, the concert program will evoke the memory of the wartime president through performances of some of the songs Lincoln enjoyed and that he inspired. While you are out and about this weekend don't forget to bring your camera and submit an entry to our photo contest. Oz Parade Update 05/26/2009
The annual Oz-Stravaganza parade is less than two weeks away and the organizers sent along an update: Oz-Stravaganza June 5-7 in Chittenango 05/18/2009
Rick Ewigleben to Attend Oz-Stravaganza! 05/11/2009
Nationally renowned graphic artist, children’s book illustrator and poster artist Rick Ewigleben will be among the celebrities participating in this year’s Oz-Stravaganza! Ewigleben will display his critically acclaimed, limited edition Wizard of Oz series of posters at the festival. In 2003, Ewigleben began a series of Oz tribute posters created in the poster-art style of the late 1930’s and early 1940’s. The posters were an immediate hit with Oz fans. There are now six limited edition posters in the series as he has unveiled a new poster each year since 2003. In 2007, he began creating other Oz-inspired original art and they also became hits with Oz fans. “One of my most recent pieces is to honor Munchkin Coroner Meinhardt Raabe, with whom I’ve had a friendly acquaintance since we shared a booth at the festival in Chesterton a few years ago,” the artist explains. Rick will be on hand to autograph and/or personalize each of these as well as his limited edition Oz tribute posters and a dozen different prints that are currently a part of his collection.  The planners and committee members for the 31st annual Oz-Stravaganza are working overtime as this year's event is only a few weeks away. Planned for June 5-7 there will be fun things for the entire family all weekend long including the popular parade. The organizers have passed along the following information so you can start planning your Oz weekend of fun: Hot Air Balloon FlightsOz-Stravaganza! Hot Air Balloon Activities by Airborne Adventures Fireworks and Costume JudgingOz-Stravaganza! Fireworks Locks of Love and Fun RunOz-Stravaganza! Locks of Love Hair Cutting The Parade31st annual Grand Oz Parade Are you the next Emerald City Idol? 04/20/2009
Last year's inaugural Emerald City Idol event was such a success at Ozstravaganza in Chittenango, and now it is back for a 2nd year. The competition begins on May 30th with auditions at Chittenango High School from 11 am to 6pm. The high school is at 150 Genesee Street in the village. Email them for more information on the auditions. | WelcomeYou've found the official blog for Madison County Tourism, We are located in the heart of Central New York State just minutes from Syracuse and Utica. Stop back often and visit us soon! Madison County Tourism on Facebook Blog RollOfficial Madison County Tourism Web Site  CategoriesAll ArchivesFebruary 2010 |
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