THE WIZARD OF OZ Plays TIP Mainstage Today, May 17

"The Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum, book by John Kane, music by Harold Arlen, lyrics by E.Y. Harburg, directed by Jonah Hagans, will be presented on Tokyo International Players' mainstage tonight, May 17 through May 20.

TIP presents a unique new staging of the classic MGM screen musical "The Wizard of Oz". Dorothy and her dog Toto are swept up in a tornado and carried to the magical land of Oz. There, Dorothy meets the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion, who help her in her quest to return home. Together, they follow the Yellow Brick Road, pursued by the Wicked Witch of the West. Dorothy is truly "not in Kansas anymore" in this dark, "steampunk" Victorian futuristic interpretation of the beloved show. Featuring such popular songs as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," "Merry Old Land of Oz," and many more.

The Wizard of Oz is the high-impact finale in the current Main Stage season for TIP, which has been providing English-language theatre in the heart of Japan for over 115 years.

The show plays tonight, May 17th @ 7pm, Friday, May 18th @ 7pm, Saturday, May 19th @ 1pm AND 7pm, Sunday, May 20th @ 1pm AND 7pm at the Theatre Sun-Mall in Shinjuku. For map and directions, pleasae visit TIP's website at: http://www.tokyoplayers.org/?lang=1&page=63.

Tickets: Earlybird: 3,800 JPY (only available for online bookings paid by credit card until May 3rd; incudes 300 JPY booking charge); Advance reservation: 4,000 JPY; At door (no reservation): 4,500 JPY; Students & Children: 2,500 JPY

Visit TIP's box office at http://www.tokyoplayers.org/?lang=1&page=96 to buy or reserve tickets.

TIP Youth will also feature "Honk! JR," May 31-June 3. With book by Anthony Drewe, music by George Stiles, lyrics by Anthony Drewe, based on Hans Christian Andersen's "The Ugly Duckling," the show will be directed by Linden Wint.

This is a musical version of "The Ugly Duckling" in which Ugly is tormented by everyone in The Farmyard, falls into the hands of the Cat and finds himself lost in a blizzard. Will he ever find his way home safely? Will he ever make any friends?

"Guys and Dolls JR" comes in for Act II, with book by Abe Burrows, lyrics by Frank Loesser, music by Frank Loesser, book by Jo Swerling, based on "The Idyll of Sarah Brown" and characters by Damon Runyon, directed by Dale Geyer.

A rollicking musical comedy full of hilarious and lovable New York characters. Follow along as missionary Sarah Brown navigates her conflicting feelings for slick gambler Sky Masterson, while showgirl Miss Adelaide tries to pin down her fiancée, Nathan Detroit, after 14 years of engagement.

TIP Youth is a program from Tokyo International Players designed for teaching students all about theatre and performing. This six-month program is just for students, to give them a firm grounding in all things involved in acting on stage, being part of a production and belonging to a theatre community.

TIP Youth aims to provide students with a solid foundation of knowledge and practical techniques in theatre and performing in a professional-level show, so that they may carry and use this experience in many aspects of their student and adult lives, whether they perform professionally or not.

The students, aged eight to seventeen, have been attending workshops and rehearsals since January, learning through practice what it is to be part of a professional theatrical production. Come and see the results of their hard work and dedication to the craft.

Intake for the 2013 program will open November 1st, 2012. Information will be posted in October.