No yellow brick road for these Munchkins

LAKELAND - Some parents and their children are disappointed they will not get to perform with a local production of Oz the Musical this weekend at the Polk Theatre.

The theater group organizing the shows said it doesn't have the money to go forward with its plans.

In March, representatives from Oz the Musical contacted Jennifer Davis, owner of Art in Motion Academy of Dance. Davis agreed to host auditions for the show.

She says the musical's writer/director Todrick Hall flew in from New York to attend the auditions.

Several local performers were selected for shows in Lakeland, Tampa and Sarasota. Parents paid a $50 registration fee per child, Davis said.

Oz the Musical advertised a 30-city tour, beginning May 24, 2009.

Davis says she learned Friday the Oz theater group had not secured the Polk Theatre as a venue from a theater employee.

"He's like 'as far as we're concerned, it's not happening. We can't get a hold of anybody. We don't have their contract. We don't have any money," Davis said.

Then, no one from the group showed to a planned rehearsal Tuesday. Davis says repeated attempts to contact them failed.

Jodi Megivern's daughter Molly was chosen for the play.

"To be a munchkin in Oz, it was going to be an awesome adventure for me," Molly said.

Children who auditioned in various cities were cast as munchkins, to work alongside actors and other talent with Broadway experience.

"She said I made it and I was very excited," said Kaitlin Hurtt, remembering when her grandmother gave her the good news.

"It was such a big disappointment to the community and the children who had auditioned and got their hopes up and excitement for that type of experience," parent Jodi Megivern said.

"I was very excited because I'd get to learn new dances and everything," Kortney Hurtt said.

By phone, Hall told FOX 13 he and his group have good intentions and are not trying to rip anyone off.

"We got in way over our heads and we're still trying to deal with the situation. We are not quitters," Hall said. "We don't want to quit the process, but unfortunately three or four of the cities of the 30 had to be canceled."

Hall, who performed in Oprah Winfrey's production of The Color Purple on Broadway, says Oz lost a major financial backer and doesn't have the money to go on with Oz the Musical.

He said instead the crew will put on performances of a less expensive Broadway Review in the same cities and dates, but possibly different and less expensive venues than what was planned. However, shows before June 21 are canceled altogether.

"In Lakeland, everyone will get their money back and we plan on coming back to Lakeland. We have no intentions of neglecting those kids," Hall said.

Hall said the Lakeland children are welcome to perform in the Broadway Review scheduled for Tampa and Sarasota scheduled for the end of June and early July.