It’s the story everyone knows. Young Dorothy Gale, a Kansas farm girl, is picked up by a twister and dropped into the wonderful land of Oz, where she meets many unusual creatures and must perform a quest before she can get back home.

Along the way, she and her companions all learn a little more about themselves and how to achieve the dreams that really do come true over the rainbow.

This story, The Wizard of Oz, is being produced in its full musical glory at The Encore Musical Theatre in Dexter for the holiday season. They’ll do 21 shows with three different Dorothies, each one taking a magical trip over the rainbow and fulfilling the expectations of fans of the movie and the book.

It opens on a clever set by Bartley H. Bauer that has to work for a lot of different settings, from the Kansas farm to the Enchanted Forest of Oz to a field of poppies. It works because of its simplicity and a yellow color that changes under the attentive lighting of Daniel C. Walker. It has several entry doors and steps that provide for multiple layers for the choreography and storytelling.

Director Thalia V. Schramm makes good use of the set in ways that keeps the audience smiling and the stage picture interesting.

Ultimately, this show’s storytelling falls on the shoulders of the young Dorothies, played by Jennie Rupp the night I saw it. A high school sophomore, she has the charisma and chops to play the optimistic young Dorothy who has no use for bullies and is protective of her dog and her friends. Rupp is the epitome of the Dorothy that Judy Garland lovers have come to expect with her blue gingham dress and her pigtail braids. She’s got a strong voice and a sweet personality that shines through each scene. Her pacing is excellent, especially in scenes where she is talking excitedly over her Auntie Em and Uncle Henry. She also relates well to the other actors on stage, making good eye contact and listening intently to put all the focus on the other actors.

Her cuteness factor is ratcheted up by the dog she carries in her arms, 9 ½ -year-old Casey Stengel Hook, a Malti-poo. The patient dog makes soulful eye contact with the audience and never complains about being part of dance numbers or excited arguments.

Rupp is surrounded by a strong ensemble of actors, many playing double roles. Her enemy and opposite, the mean Almira Gulch/Wicked Witch of the West is played by Wendy Katz Hiller who brings a focused energy to the role. Hiller is sharp and evil in both roles, knowing when to screech and when to growl, both with equal vocal control. “Wicked” aside, Hiller creates a character you love to hate.

Lauren Norris bundles practicality with magic in her two roles as Aunt Em and Glinda–the Good Witch of the North; in each, she is loving and speaks out clearly to entrance Dorothy. Daniel A. Helmer is the humbug wizard, first as Professor Marvel in Kansas then as the Wizard of Oz. He is at his delightful best when contrasting the booming, commanding wizard with the revealed showman who is much more meek.

Dorothy’s three friends–first as farm hands and then as Scarecrow (Nick Brown), Tinman (Dan Morrison) and Cowardly Lion (Gayle E. Martin) bring everything you would expect to their respective roles. All three have a great physicality, each particular to their own roles. It’s a physicality they carry through the dancing and at all times in between. Brown flops like a true Scarecrow; Morrison is robotic in his motions; and Martin is cat-like alternating between fear and bravado as the Lion. Together with Rupp, the quartet blends nicely as they sing even while each retaining their own individual voice. Martin’s speech is sometimes a bit too affected, but it brings a distinct voice to the Lion and earlier to Zeke, the farm hand. They also all get extra credit for quick costume and makeup changes.

There were two ensembles—the regular ensemble that filled in roles from town people of Oz, to Winkies, to blackbirds to trees and the children’s ensemble that played the Munchkins and flying monkeys. The children’s ensemble had children in it as young as third grade and they were all intent and talented as well as being even cuter than Toto.

Part of making the Land of Oz wondrous came in Sharon Larkey Urick’s costuming. Some were classic like the Wicked Witch, Dorothy and the Doorman of Oz. Others were fantastical, like the Winkies who were able to be scary and intimidating in turn and comic in others. The Scarecrow was properly stuffed and the Lion sported a mighty mane. The tin man was all tin, but designed in a way that he could still dance and perform Phil Simmons’ choreography. The one quibble with the costuming was the Munchkins. While the costumes were very cute, the script specifically says that blue is their favorite color and there was relatively little blue among the Munchkins.

There were children as young as seven in the audience and they were entranced by the show, listening intently through the two hours and five minutes that the show runs. Nothing is too scary for younger children, though the length of the show might be a bit much for restless children. There is, though, a 15-minute intermission midway through.

Schramm directs a classic production of the Wizard of Oz, giving its due to both movie and book and satisfying fans of both stories. She makes the most of the Encore’s space and infuses this production with joy and love. For those looking for a family outing this holiday season, put The Encore on the list.

Click here for show days, times and details.