I took my kids to Coterie Theatre earlier this week and we saw The Wiz. What a show!! All 3 of us loved every minute of it. The most amazing thing– by far– is the fact that my 4-year-old daughter was completely entertained and totally captivated. For the entire 90 minutes. She never ONCE moved from her seat. I’m still having a hard time believing that this was the case!! Kudos to Coterie for pulling off the impossible. (Full disclosure: Coterie Theatre is an advertising partner of KC Kids Fun.)
Over the years, I’ve seen a half-dozen or so Coterie productions, and by far, this was the best. The acting, singing, set design…all were superb. The show was well-paced, and there were so many musical numbers that the kids never got a chance to daydream or become distracted. If you aren’t familiar with The Wiz, it’s basically an urban adaptation of The Wizard of Oz.
On our way down to Crown Center, I summarized the story for my kids and we discussed the main characters and what they would likely see on stage. There’s no other way to say it, The Wiz has soul. The music was loud and pulsating, the costumes and sets were colorful. There was some serious creativity harnessed for this production– the portrayal of the tornado and the poppy fields were totally memorable.
The Wiz runs through August 7, 2011. Coterie Theatre is located on Level One of the Crown Center Shops in downtown Kansas City. You’ll want to get your tickets purchased ASAP…many remaining performances are sold out (and rightfully so!) and with this blazing hot summer –an afternoon spent indoors at Coterie is an attractive option for many!
