Grand Rapids Ballet School’s Junior Company to Present Classic Tale “Wizard of Oz” For Two Weekends In March

By Marketing Director Meghan Dolata

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., March 1, 2023 — Grand Rapids Ballet School’s (GRBS) Junior Company is ready to fill the Peter Martin Wege Theatre stage with an exceptional heartwarming performance, “Wizard of Oz,” that’s perfect for the whole family. The hour-and-a-half-long ballet is ideal for all Munchkins, young and old!

The Tinman, Lion, and Scarecrow, oh my! – a wizardly good time awaits at the Peter Martin Wege Theatre as the Grand Rapids Ballet School Junior Company presents Wizard of Oz. Guests will be entertained with compelling choreography by Junior Company Artistic Director Attila Mosolygo, recognizable costumes, and onstage magic as the performance unfolds.

The ballet follows the story of the original book “The Wonderful Wizard of OZ” written by L. Frank Baum, yet follows the same storyline of the well-known movie, directed by Victor Fleming, throughout the ballet. Follow Dorothy as she travels to the land of Oz, meets three faithful friends, confronts the Wizard of Oz, and fights off the Wicked Witch of the West.

“I am excited to see all of the GRBS Junior Company students showcase their talents as we bring this classic story to the stage,” said GRBS Director and Junior Company Artistic Director Attila Mosolygo. “The students have been working hard the last two and a half months.”

Rehearsals for Wizard of Oz began in December. Grand Rapids Ballet School Junior Company members have been attending class weekly at Grand Rapids Ballet’s Meijer Royce Center for Dance, and in many cases, depending on the role they are cast as, rehearse multiple days per week leading up to the performance. “The production involves over 50 dancers of the Junior Company. As you can imagine, it can be challenging at times to bring that big of a cast together,” Mosolygo says.

The GRBS Junior Company is comprised of 52 students who attend Grand Rapids Ballet School between the ages of 10 and 19. Being part of the Junior Company allows them to perform in their own productions alongside Grand Rapids Ballet’s professional dancers. To participate in the Junior Company, students must be enrolled full-time at Grand Rapids Ballet School and maintain a 90% attendance record.

Premiering initially in 2018, Grand Rapids Ballet School Junior Company is excited to bring back this well know the classic tale. Although the props and set design are the same, you may see some differences in the choreography, “As I revisit the ballet, I do tweak each scene and make changes as we go along,” Mosolygo mentioned, “the sets and the costumes were originally created when the premiere happened in 2018. I designed and built the sets myself, based on my interpretation of the story.”

For an added experience, GRBS Junior Company is hosting Dorothy & Friends’ Tea Party, a unique and memorable event, on Sunday, March 12, at The Rutledge on Ionia. Families can join us as we enter the world of Oz and make themed crafts, pose for the photo booth, and meet & greet with characters from the Wizard of Oz; all topped off with a brunch built for kids and adults alike. Afterward, travel down the yellow brick road to our Peter Martin Wege Theatre and experience the joy of the Wizard of Oz at 2 p.m.

“Wizard of Oz” occurs March 10-12 and 18-19, 2023, at Peter Martin Wege Theatre. Tickets are available now for only $20 online, via phone at (616) 454-4771 ext. 110, or in person at GRB’s Box Office. Tickets to Dorothy & Friends’ Tea Party are available for $54 per person on our website.