September 9, 2005

Silver Oak second-grader joins AMTSJ's
'Wizard of Oz' cast Sept. 13 to 25

Amid flying monkeys and vivid pyrotechnics, 7-year-old Emily “Emmy” Farese debuts on the professional stage in American Musical Theatre of San Jose's lavish presentation of “The Wizard of Oz.”

Evergreen resident Emmy Farese makes her debut in the professional ranks with American Musical Theatre San Jose’s production of “The Wizard of Oz.” Photo by Gemma Barozzi, who was Emmy’s voice coach for the audition.

The second-grade student, who attends Silver Oak Elementary School, joined about 250 people from all over the Bay Area to audition for a part. Tryouts whittled down the hopefuls to a cast of 70, which includes about 20 children 10 and under and another 15 to 20 teens.

“I love being a Munchkin and a poppy in ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ I've met so many nice people in the cast and crew,” said Emmy, who sings in the Munchkin Lullaby League. “The makeup and costumes are so great too!”

Emmy's mom, Susan Farese, says her young daughter loves to perform. She's been taking dancing lessons since she was two-and-a-half and has participated in a number of acting workshops offered by groups such as Children's Musical Theatre San Jose, Creative Learning through Arts Programs, Tabard Theatre, Greenroom School and Children’s Playhouse of San Jose.

At Silver Oak, Emmy appeared in “Dear Edwina, Jr.” and an adaptation of “The Wizard of Oz.”

“She’s having so much fun and never complains about going to rehearsals-she just enjoys it so much,” said Farese.

“As a mom, this professional experience has been a pleasure. It’s been very organized, with great communication and great spirit. The kids want to be here-it’s a wonderful, universal show.”

Farese also feels proud, and fortunate, to have an opportunity like this in San Jose. Families bring their children to the Oz rehearsals from as far away as Santa Rosa and Hercules.

Emmy is the only Evergreen-based Oz cast member. Yet several cast members come from San Jose, including fifteen-year old San Jose native and vocal powerhouse Kari Yancy, who will don the famous blue pinafore as Dorothy.

The locally produced version of L. Frank Baum’s classic tale includes all the favorite songs from the 1939 MGM film starring Judy Garland, including “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” “Follow the Yellow Brick Road,” and “We’re Off to See the Wizard.”

One of the most beloved stories of all time, “The Wizard of Oz” was set to music by Broadway composing team Harold Arlen and E.Y. (“Yip”) Harburg for a 1939 MGM film starring Judy Garland and vaudeville veterans Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, Frank Morgan and Billie Burke.

Trumpeted as “The Greatest Picture in the History of Entertainment!” the movie went on to become a classic, well-known to millions when it was broadcast as an annual television event in the 1960s and ‘70s.

Over the past seven decades, American Musical Theatre of San Jose has transformed from a local community civic light opera into a major regional arts institution, currently presenting touring Broadway shows, as well as self-produced musicals and innovative new works.

“We are still presenting tours with a goal of a balanced season, which is in line with our mission,” said Michael Miller, CEO and executive producer of American Musical Theatre of San Jose. “The community is very important to us, and as a professional theatre company, we would be remiss not to tap the wealth of talent in the Bay Area.”

To purchase tickets, contact the AMTSJ box office at (408) 453-7108 or go to the Web site: www.amtsj.org.