KNOXVILLE  The National Tour of The Wizard of Oz has announced that students from Knoxville’s Studio Arts for Dancers will perform the roles of “munchkins” in this beloved classic on the Tennessee Theatre stage. THE WIZARD OF OZ, touching down in Knoxville for three performances on December 11, at 8 p.m. and December 12, at 2 and 8 p.m., sounded the alarm to find a group of 12 local children to perform the roles of munchkins as part of their continuing arts education, and Studio Arts for Dancers answered.

“Studio Arts is grateful for this opportunity to work with the talented cast
and crew of ‘The Wizard of Oz’,” said rehearsal facilitator Michal Lynn
Tweedie.

This opportunity will provide Studio Arts dancers with real-life theatrical
experience with a touring production. They will discover what it¹s like to
be part of a professional company, learn choreography by Leigh Constantine
and be outfitted in the costume designs of Tim McQuillen-Wright. It’s truly
a unique experience and incredible opportunity for these aspiring
actors/actresses to follow their yellow brick road.

The children to perform in the Knoxville engagement are Laura Patterson,
McKenzie Needham, Megan DuCote, Elizabeth Neubenfeur, Talor Hampton, Carlen
Little, Morgan Steedly, Abbie Lee Webster, Rebekah Tate, Micah McKee,
Gillian Howard, and Abby Hatmaker.

Studio Arts for Dancers of Knoxville was founded in 1991 by artistic
director Lisa Hall McKee. The purpose of Studio Arts has been to promote the
art of dance by providing quality training, creative performance
opportunities and artistic enrichment for young dancers. Studio Arts is
known for its devotion to nurturing confidence while developing technical
excellence in its young dancers. Our mission is the encouragement of youth
to explore the wonders, challenges, and rewards of dance while developing
individual artistry and technical excellence within each child.

For more information on the tour visit www.wizardofozontour.com or
www.tennesseetheatre.com.