“Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain,” commands the Great and Powerful Wizard of Oz in the timeless classic. However, director Karen Barroso feels the people behind the curtain of The Algarveans’ Experimental Theatre’s “The Wizard of Oz” should be given the attention they deserve.
“Our show would not have been possible if it were not for our fabulous production team working behind the scenes,” she says. Set design and build, wardrobe, props, stage manager, sound and lighting as well as publicity are just some of the crew that patrons never see in front of the curtain.
The production they create will enchant audiences in Lagoa next week. Though Karen has been involved with The Algarveans over many years, this is her first time taking the helm of a production.
“The Wizard of Oz is a show that I’ve wanted to stage for many years and what better year than on the 80th anniversary of this magical musical.”
Her passion for the arts began at the tender age of two when she started baby ballet classes at a local dance school in Liverpool. She continued dancing and showed a talent for choreography, winning a nationwide competition at the age of 10.
She was accepted for the prestigious Shelagh Elliot-Clarke School of Dance and Drama in Liverpool, giving her the opportunity to progress further in musical arts with a full curriculum of acting, singing and dancing.
Karen moved to the Algarve in 1989 and joined The Algarveans when it was founded in 1991. She danced with her soul sister, Nikki Weijdom, in “Puss in Boots” and later performed roles including “Cinderella”, while at the same time designing the choreography. Patrons may remember her from last spring’s “Ladies’ Day”, when she played Jan, one of the fish packers who spent the day at York Races.
With a fantastic cast and a wonderful group of chorus and dancers from throughout the Algarve, she feels sure that “The Wizard of Oz” will delight audiences both young and old.
“The Wizard of Oz” will be performed in English at the 300-seat Carlos do Carmo Auditorium in Lagoa on November 21, 22 and 23 at 7.45pm, with a 2pm matinee on November 23. Tickets at €10 are available at all Worten and Fnac stores as well as the Auditorium box office, or online at www.ticketline.pt
