The Musicals at Richter production runs through Aug.

Nearly 500 people auditioned to be part of WBT's show, which runs July 31 through Sept. We've never done it (at WBT) before.'Īccording to Stutler, 'The Wizard of Oz' lives on because 'it has a good story about how after you've been all over the place, the best place to be is home.' 'Judy Garland is fabulous all the characters are great. 'I didn't see it the year it came out,' he joked, but he's seen it several times since. Stutler was born in 1939 (when the movie debuted). Stutler said another factor was that he loves Judy Garland (who played Dorothy) and loves the story. The movie's 75th anniversary is among the reasons it was chosen. 'We're (WBT) celebrating our 40th anniversary,' said Stutler, who lives on Candlewood Lake. Together they have produced more shows than any Broadway producer. New Milford resident Bill Stutler is co-owner of the dinner-theater venue with Bob Funking. This classic tale will be on stage again this summer at Westchester Broadway Theatre in nearby Elmsford, N.Y. Traveling down a yellow brick road, she and her friends defeat a wicked witch, and are rewarded with their hearts' desires. In her unconscious state, she's transported to a fantasy land, where she meets magical characters from her Kansas life. She dreams of a better place and plans to run away, but is struck on the head when a tornado hits.

The messages he's referring to are explored through the story of a lonely Kansas farm girl, Dorothy. 'It's about basic human principles like thoughtfulness, love and courage, and how these things are already inside us, but we need to have confidence to make them shine,' said Bria, who plays the Scarecrow in Musicals at Richter's production, on stage in Danbury.

Good curtain call song for wizard of oz