Two shows put kids in the spotlight

In the classic movie fairy tale “The Wizard of Oz,” heroine Dorothy Gale and her friends have a bunch of adventures before they find their way to the magnificent city and, finally, back home. KISS Theatre Company’s Christa Manning and her friends have also had quite a few adventures during the past few months, and while there is no yellow brick road or man behind the curtain, their journey is no less magical. After years moving from place to place, KISS is ready to open its very own new space at the Wyoming Valley Mall to the public, taking the stage in a live version of “The Wizard of Oz.”

It seems especially fitting that the group is opening its doors with the much-beloved tale. Manning still has fond memories of watching “The Wizard of Oz” as a child. In her house, it was a family event, complete with a later bedtime, sleeping bags in the living room and junk food treats. This time around, the road to Oz comes with 14-hour days and remarkably little after all these years, to see them bring back all that magic, “is unbelievable,” Manning said.

Of course, the KISS gang hasn’t had to worry about any lions and tigers and bears, but they have been faced with contractors and moving and 8-hour rehearsals, oh my. And while there is no good witch to come along and save the day, there have been plenty of parents and friends who come in on a moment’s notice to make sure the venue is ready for opening night.

“There’s really that whole sense of ‘community’ in community theatre through all this,” Manning said.

As with any production, “The Wizard of Oz” has had obstacles to overcome.

“You can’t go wrong working with kids or animals,” Manning said, joking about the old show business adage.

But with all of the frantic, last-minute preparations, Manning is hard-pressed to name any not related to the facility’s opening.

“There have probably been a lot of other challenges, but in light of the major ones, I just don’t see them,” she said with a hearty laugh before turning serious just for a moment.

“This is a very tough show,” she said. “It’s not written for kids. It’s written for adults, adult voices.”

Though they’re young, the cast of 60 is up to the task, backed by hard work and excitement over the new home.

“I think this being their own space now, it’s just making that much more of a difference. They’re even cleaning up after themselves now,“ Manning joked. “I can’t even believe how good some of these kids are doing. My Dorothy, I would easily put her up against any Dorothy, any age, anywhere.”

With the paint drying, wiring in place and costumes hanging, Manning is ready for the public to see the hard work of her cast and the whole KISS family. And to see that KISS is more than kids playing dress-up.

“I don’t want people to come in and say, ‘Aw, what a cute kids show,’” Manning said. “It’s a show that just happens to be done by kids. These kids really take you where you’re supposed to go. You get to forget about what’s outside the doors for a couple of hours. Come see them. They deserve every house to be sold out for this show.”

American Stars of Tomorrow

The Music Box Dinner Playhouse has been a theatrical landmark in Northeastern Pennsylvania for nearly 30 years, but its current cast is still excited to take the stage as the youngest thespians present “American Stars of Tomorrow.” Under the direction of Debbie Zehner, “American Stars of Tomorrow” features 20 cast members between the ages of 7 and 20 performing show tunes, country ditties and pop favorites.

“It gives the kids a chance to get out there and do some of these numbers they wouldn’t normally get to do in a show,” says Zehner.

While the Music Box typically has a brisk production schedule, these youngsters really had to step it up a notch. They didn’t start rehearsals until after the New Year. But in spite of the short time period and the wide age gap, the cast has really pulled together.

“They’re a great group of kids,” Zehner said. “They worked really hard the last couple of weeks. Fortunately, they’re a lot quicker than I am.”

After the musical review this weekend, Zehner is looking forward to her swan song as Miss Hannigan in “Annie.” The orphans’ caretaker was her first big role at the Music Box, and she’s glad for the chance to reprise it 25 years later.

“My orphans are now grown up, and their kids are old enough to be orphans. If I can get out there without a walker or a wheelchair, I’m doing pretty good.”

But for now, Zehner’s focused on her own young charges and their mix of tunes, including one of the director’s signatures — a patriotic tribute to the American troops.

“There’s something for everybody, young and old alike,” she explained. “You’ll laugh, you’ll cry. I can guarantee that you’ll be impressed and have a wonderful time. And hopefully, we’ll be able to get you to cry at the end.”

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(Jan. 22-23, 7 p.m.; Jan. 24, 2 p.m., Music Box Dinner Playhouse, 196 Hughes St., Swoyersville. Tickets: $12. Info: 570.283.2195.)