Students in Orange Beach's Expect Excellence after school theater program will be kicking off February with a classic story. "The Wizard of Oz" opens Feb. 1 at the Orange Beach Performing Arts Center.
The show tells the story of Dorothy and her dog, Toto, who are whisked away in their house to the magical land of Oz after a tornado. They follow a yellow brick road toward the Emerald City to meet the Wizard and meet Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion along the way as they fight against the evil Wicked Witch of the West.

According to Jessica Langston, creative director for Expect Excellence, the cast is comprised of 60 actors and a live dog playing the role of "Toto" and will bring the colorful story to life through detailed sets as the story moves from Dorothy's home in Kansas through the forest and into munchkin land, where Dorothy meets the Wicked Witch in the Land of Oz.

"It's such an iconic and timeless show, and it’s so relatable because we all see ourselves in one or more of the characters. Everyone has felt like the lion or the scarecrow at some point in their lives, and we all have encountered the wicked witch in our lives somewhere," Director Jacob Morris said. "'The Wizard of Oz’ is a real, tried-and-true story where Dorothy has to keep on going even through the hard times. It’s about her not giving up. By the end of their journey, they all learn from each other and discover that if you keep trying, you will be rewarded at the end."

According to Expect Excellence, this will also be the first live theater production at the performing arts center to use the stage pit area to provide live orchestral accompaniment during the performances.

"'The Wizard of Oz’ is one of those stories that stays with you from the very first time you see it," Langston said. "While the majority of the audience has probably seen the wonderful movie version of it, there is just something even more endearing and magical about seeing it performed live in person."

Tickets are currently on sale at www.orangebeachal.gov/performingarts., or can be purchased at the box office on weekdays from 3:30 to 6 p.m. located at 23908 Canal Road. For more information, call (251) 923-0043.