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Local Theater Builds Community

By Sara Longley

Munchkins all in blue, ready for their stage entrance in Wizard of Oz.

Nov 08, 2001 -- Variety Plus, Seattle's most inclusive theater group, is mounting a production of Wizard of Oz this week at the Museum of History and Industry. If you go, you will be treated to an experience created by a cast of 83, ranging in age from four to 50-something. At the heart of it all are Angela Rinaldi-Gribas and Bob Gribas, theater professionals who wanted to do something different.

Variety Plus is unique in Seattle. Anyone who wants can join and take part in their yearly production. Nobody is turned away, and there are no auditions. All the actors volunteer their time and buy their own costumes, and on performance days everyone assists in set changing, concessions and ushering.

Angela Rinaldi-Gribas explains, "We give kids and adults the opportunity to work together. We have lots of families in the show. Kids join and pull their parents in, or sometimes adult actors come in and end up bringing their kids." Cast members come from all over the region, from Tukwila and Burien to Shoreline and Everett. In addition to mixing age groups, Variety Plus also blends people of different experience levels.

Bob Gribas puts final touches on the makeup of Glinda the Good Witch, played by Yvette Soler.

The plays they put on have familiar names, like Snow White and Little Orphan Annie, but the scripts are original. Bob Gribas wrote this year's Wizard of Oz. Rinaldi-Gribas says,"we did a spin on the Wizard of Oz using several of the Oz books. It's definitely not the movie version." Dorothy, the Tin Man and the Scarecrow are here, of course, but so are Quadlings, Porcelain Cows, at least one Chicken. There are 35 speaking parts in the production; other cast members are dancers, singers or street scene extras. Many people take more than one role. "Everyone gets as much stage time as possible," says Rinaldi-Gribas, "so they aren't on stage for five minutes and then sit around for an hour."

Even the very young cast members are given responsibilities, and Rinaldi-Gribas says this is one of the things that keeps them coming back year after year. "It builds confidence," she says. "We have parents and teachers commenting on their kids' improved grades because of this experience."

Gracie Rowan, 10, plays a Munchkin. "It takes up most of my time, but it's fun," she says of the hectic 6-week production schedule.

Sisters Kibbianne and Steevie Sporleder, 10 and eight, have been performing with Variety Plus since 1996. "My first play was Little Orphan Annie," Kibbianne says, and Steevie is quick to jump in, "Me too!" "In Snow White," Kibbianne continues, "I was a flower that helped Snow White."

You can still catch the Wizard of Oz on Saturday and Sunday, November 10 and 11. Call Variety Plus at (206) 368-8386 or come to the Museum of History and Industry's McEachern Auditorium to buy your tickets at the door. Showtimes are 4 and 7 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 4 p.m. Sunday.

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Anonymous	Mar 13, 2005
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