The Wizard of Oz Cast(s)
(In Order of Appearance)
Click on Cast Member Name to see bio and performance dates.
| CHARACTER | RUBY CAST | EMERALD CAST |
| Dorothy | Shelli Semler (Dorothy)Shelli received her professional acting training in New York City where she studied at Circle in the Square Theatre and The New Actor’s Workshop under Mike Nichols, Paul Sills and George Morrison. She has been a member of CTA since 2005 and has enjoyed every minute of bringing music, laughter and live theater to San Francisco school children. Of all the roles she has played, her most favorite is the one she plays every day as a mother to her teen-age daughter. Shelli is delighted to be in this year’s performance of The Wizard of Oz and as always lovingly dedicates this performance to her sweet Scarlett.
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Kat Zagoria (Dorothy)Kat is entering her 6th year living in SF and being in CTA with her past performance credits being the lead in Pinocchio and Aladdin. Dancing since age 3, she has taught Cotillion, ballroom dancing and Zumba. Kat received her Master’s Degree from Johns Hopkins University. In addition to teaching, she worked in professional dinner theater, acting in many musicals and worked in radio and television commercials. She started a singing group called the Treble Makers, and was the choreographer for the group, which is still performing in NC.
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| Uncle Henry | Gail Anderson (Uncle Henry)Gail was drafted to dance the part of the Licorice Whip for CTA when she was 17. She has studied ballet, modern dance and drama, and has performed in New York, Los Angeles and Honolulu. She has done runway and print modeling as well as radio and television commercials. In addition to other roles, she has performed as Charlotte in Charlotte’s Web, the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, the Wicked Stepsister and Prince Charming in Cinderella, The Baron in Jack and the Beanstalk, the bad boy Gino in Pinocchio, Tweedledum in Alice in Wonderland and Cutter the Dwarf in last year’s production. She is also a fundraiser for the San Francisco Opera and other Bay Area charities.
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Cathy Kirkpatrick (Uncle Henry)Cathy is a 38-year member of CTA. She was president of the organization in 1994. In 2013 she was the recipient of The Missy Saveri Award for excellence in all aspects of the theater. She is the founder of The Songbirds, CTA’s 20 voice choral group serving the Bay Area for over 20 years. She owns the “Secret Garden,” a children’s store in Greenbrae, CA.
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| Auntie Em | Benita Truman (Auntie Em)Benita has been in over 30 productions for CTA. She has been active in children’s theater for the past 45 years, performing, producing, directing and teaching in the Bay Area and East Coast. She has performed on both coasts in community and professional theater. She majored in Theatre Arts at San Jose State University, and did graduate work at San Francisco State University. First love: Performing for children.
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Suzy Cronholm (Auntie Em)Suzy returns to the CTA stage for the eighteenth consecutive year. Some of her previous roles include Rapunzel’s mother, Cinderella’s nasty stepsister and the Giant’s nervous housekeeper. She loves working with and gives a standing ovation to this amazing group of CTA members – actors, producers, business managers, artists, costume designers and crew. In real life, Suzy and her husband, Bob, live in San Francisco and she receives great coaching from her son, a musician, her daughter, an actress, and her two grandchildren, her biggest fans.
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Glinda, the Good Witch | D'Arcy Owens (Glinda, the Good Witch)D’Arcy joined CTA in 2003, initially drawn to its longstanding singing group, The Songbirds. Somewhere along the way she picked up the acting bug and has enjoyed playing the Baroness in Enchanted Sleeping Beauty, the Treasurer in Rumpelstiltskin, the Captain in Beauty and The Beast, the Blue Fairy in Pinocchio, Flora in Alice in Wonderland, and the Mirror in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. This year she is looking forward to playing Glinda, the Good Witch.
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Diane Blackman (Glinda, the Good Witch)Diane has been performing with CTA for over 20 years. She loves playing the evil persona and has done so many times: The wicked step mother (Cinderella), the evil fairy (Sleeping Beauty), the nasty fox (Pinocchio), The Queen of Hearts (Alice in Wonderland), and her all time favorite, The Queen/Witch in Snow White. She and her husband live in Marin County very near her children and grandchildren, except for her one daughter, who is still in Anastasia on Broadway.
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Wicked Witch | Allison Yates (Wicked Witch)Allison has previously performed with CTA as Princess Jasmine in Aladdin, Alice in Alice in Wonderland and The Mirror in last year’s production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. She has been performing in musicals since she was a child and has a degree from Santa Clara University with a double major in Acting and Dance. She has studied with vocal instructor Ava Victoria since 2009. Allison lives in San Francisco with her husband where she also designs and constructs bespoke clothing.
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Karen Saghi (Wicked Witch)Having been a member of CTA for many years, Karen’s past performances include an incredible variety of roles: the moody Beast in Beauty & the Beast, the grizzled Rumpelstiltskin, the party-spoiling witchy Evilina in The Legend of Briar Rose, and the mad chemist Witch Wicked in last year’s production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. When not performing with CTA, her time is spent selling real estate with Sotheby’s International Realty, playing tennis and even singing with an auditioned jazz a capella group, the High Seas, sponsored by the St. Francis Yacht Club.
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| Secretary/Oz | Nancy Leavens (Secretary/Oz)Nancy joined CTA in 2005 after a lifetime off the stage. She has played an innkeeper, janitor, king, mother, Snow White dwarf, evil thief, queen’s secretary, lady of the court and a dragon. She is grateful to her daughter who encouraged her to perform, to her granddaughter who also loves to sing and dance and to her faithful friends who continue to attend even without children. Thanks to the hard work and long hours of the cast, crew, ticket sellers, school volunteers, ushers, back stage creators, costumes, props, and enthusiasts. They make this happen.
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Stephanie Saunders Ahlberg (Secretary/Oz)By day a Realtor and by “night” an actress! Stephanie has been performing in plays since she was a little girl. She serves on the Board of Directors for The Ross Valley Players where she appeared in The Dixie Swim Club, Harvey, Arms and the Man and many others. Her all time favorite roles were Amanda in The Glass Menagerie, Sheree in The Dixie Swim Club, Bianca in The Taming of the Shrew (command performance for Princess Margaret) and Linda Loman in The Death of a Salesman. Since joining CTA, she has enjoyed being one of the Genies in Aladdin and the Caterpillar in Alice In Wonderland, among others. She is delighted her grandsons and friends’ children love coming to CTA shows!
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| Scarecrow | Cindy Shanholt (Scarecrow)Cindy joined CTA in 1990. She immediately played Charlie in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and had the best time. Well, then life got in the way of doing any shows until last year when she is FINALLY retired from teaching at Crystal Springs Uplands School where she taught health and fitness classes as well as choreographed and directed the musicals for the last 28 years. Cindy is so excited to be back on stage with CTA. Cindy has an awesome husband and three amazing adult children all of whom have danced, sung, and acted in her musicals and variety shows.
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Elizabeth Baker (Scarecrow)Elizabeth is thrilled to once again to be on stage for her eleventh CTA performance. Originally trained as a ballet dancer, she danced in San Francisco and Denver. More recently, she has studied singing and acting including musical theater workshops at ACT and Marin Theater Company. She has appeared in local productions of Hello Dolly, My Fair Lady, Crazy For You and The Music Man.
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| Tin Man | Alice Steele (Tin Man)Alice joined CTA in 2005 and has co-produced Aladdin and Jack and The Beanstalk (twice!). She is a member of the CTA outreach singing group, The Songbirds, and she is a chorister at Calvary Presbyterian Church. She has loved playing a good Prince, a greedy King, a brainy Giant, and a naughty boy. As President of the nonprofit Miwok Stables Center she can be found working in “Horses As Healers” programs or riding horses herself on the Marin trails.
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Sheila Larsen (Tin Man)Sheila’s past roles in CTA productions include the Baron in Jack and the Beanstalk, Beast in Beauty and The Beast, Prince Brian in Rapunzel, The Lion in The Wizard of Oz, The Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland and Aladdin in Aladdin. Sheila produced Charlotte’s Web for CTA. She has appeared in Hello Dolly at Hillbarn Theatre and in Bye Bye Birdie at Broadway By the Bay. She has three children, (including one thespian) and holds degrees from Stanford, Northwestern and the Wharton School of Business. She thanks CTA for many years of psychic income!
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Lion | Hiedeh Honari Saghi (Lion)Hiedeh resumed her acting career eighteen years ago and has appeared annually in CTA productions for the last fourteen. Outside of CTA she has appeared in Mame, The Music Man, Annie Get Your Gun, as well as Songs For a New World, Our Love is Here to Stay, Company and Lettice and Loveage. With CTA Ms. Saghi has played Rapunzel, Cinderella, Princess Jasmine, Snow White, Belle and a mean Cat! Hiedeh studies voice with Ava Victoria in San Francisco.
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Peggy Haas (Lion)Peggy made her CTA debut in 1994 as Aslan in The Magician’s Nephew. She has performed in many CTA productions, including two years ago when she played the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland and last year when she was Sir Pompous in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Peggy is a past president of CTA and has co-produced four productions. She is a graduate of the Theatre Arts program at University of The Pacific and worked as assistant director for The American Theater in Vienna and The British Comedy Club in Brussels. She also directed at The Soho Polly in London.
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| Munchkin Mayor | Laura Klapper (Munchkin Mayor)Laura has had many great roles with CTA, including a variety of kings, Gepetto, Jammal, the White Rabbit, and Sir Pompous. Still, her goal is to play a female some day… In her past life she received a BA in English and Theater from Wesleyan and initially worked as an Assistant Producer/Director at the Arena Stage. Although she later received an MBA, worked as a Marketing Executive and Consultant, and raised her daughter and son, she stayed connected to theater by teaching acting at MTW, chairing 8th grade plays and student talent shows, and choreographing parent/faculty performances at SFDS. She also directed annual adult talent shows at the JCCSF and was Artistic Director of their community theater program.
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Ginnie Menezes (Munchkin Mayor)Ginnie has always been in love with theater. At Northwestern she performed in campus plays, musicals, and a new Chicago Second City project to bring the classics to local Chicago youth. She has performed with the Lamplighters, Piedmont Light Opera, Pacific Rep in Carmel, and many years with Woodminster Amphitheater in the Oakland hills, which sponsors a “Kids Come Free” program. Ginnie also sings with CTA’s Songbirds. She is proud to be part of CTA’s mission of bringing live theater to SF school children. She would like to thank her acting coach and toughest critic, her daughter, Amy.
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| Assistant Mayor | Jill Mooney (Assistant Mayor)Jill’s bio will be coming soon.
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Dianne Brock (Assistant Mayor)Dianne joined Children’s Theatre with an eye on painting sets and being part of the crew behind the scenes. But the action on the stage looked so fun. So, she gave it a try and finds she’s smitten with the challenge of creating a bit of magic from both sides of the curtain.
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| Munchkins/Monkeys | Adelaide Hornberger (Munchkin/Monkey)Adelaide returns for her thirteenth performance for CTA. Her past theatrical experience includes producing and acting in three musicals for Town School, and writing three benefit shows for the Epiphany Center. She has authored CTA’s adaptations of Pinocchio and Aladdin.
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Joan Herron (Munchkin/Monkey)Joan joined CTA ten years ago and has had great fun in her supporting roles in the productions. She sings with the Golden Gate Symphony Orchestra & Chorus that presents the Sing-It-Yourself Messiah each year among other classical works. She also sings with CTA’s Songbirds who entertain Bay Area seniors and others in need with two programs each year. Joan has served on the CTA Board, designing the promotional materials for the marketing effort. What a great group of fabulous ladies!
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Terry Keyes (Munchkin/Monkey)Terry has acted in all but three plays since her debut in 1984 as Hansel in Hansel and Gretel. She has held many Board positions over the years including President for three terms. Her Grandmother was a founding member of CTA and her mother, Sally, was a member for over 20 years. Whether a mute dwarf, a princess or a spritely monkey she is always thrilled to see the children delight in live musical theater.
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Pat Glass (Munchkin/Monkey)Pat, Patty, Trish, Patricia (she’ll answer to any of the above) has been in the theater world for longer than she wants to admit. She has played animals and people and two years ago she added “Table”, “Card”, and “Oysterette” to her list in Alice in Wonderland. Bringing live theater to children is a passion in which she feels fortunate to be involved. One of these days she hopes her two grandchildren will be in the audience. She lives happily in Mill Valley with her husband, Bob.
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Debby Smith (Munchkin/Monkey)Debby has been a member of CTA since 2005. She has a Music degree from the University of Illinois and has performed in many choirs and musicals as an actor, singer and dancer. Since joining CTA she has been on the Board as Producer, Treasurer, Vice President, Secretary and President. She is also a member of The Songbirds singing group. Known as CTA’s “Ms. Pie”, she enjoys spending her spare time baking wonderful treats for her fellow actors, singers, friends and family.
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Cathy Kirkpatrick (Munchkin/Monkey)Cathy is a 38-year member of CTA. She was president of the organization in 1994. In 2013 she was the recipient of The Missy Saveri Award for excellence in all aspects of the theater. She is the founder of The Songbirds, CTA’s 20 voice choral group serving the Bay Area for over 20 years. She owns the “Secret Garden,” a children’s store in Greenbrae, CA.
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Valerie Raskin (Munchkin/Monkey)The Wizard of Oz will be Valerie’s eleventh consecutive CTA show. She has been an active board member and three time producer. Valerie has appeared in numerous community theater productions throughout the Bay Area. She is also a member of CTA’s singing group The Songbirds, under the direction of Dwight Okamura. She lives in San Francisco with her husband Neil.
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Pam McKulla (Munchkin/Monkey)Pam returns to the theater this year with the roles of munchkin and monkey under her belt. She has acted in sixteen CTA performances and considers the smiles of the children her greatest reward. When not involved with CTA, she is an actor in local film productions and commercials. She lives in Orinda with her golden retriever, Riley.
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Jena Pugh (Munchkin/Monkey)Jena is in her fourth year with CTA having performed as the wicked Halima in Aladdin, the infamous turtle and door #2 in Alice in Wonderland, and last year as a dwarf in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. She has a dramatic arts background from UCSB and has performed in the likes of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare. Aside from CTA she is a mother to a seven year old daughter and lives in Marin with her husband, Justin, and dog, Jack.
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Carmen Hedlund Doyle (Munchkin/Monkey)This is Carmen’s seventh year with CTA. Her background as a Television Fashion Commentator for many years in Honolulu makes her comfortable on stage in the theater she loves. She is looking forward to having her nine year old twin grandgirls, Ashley and Brooke, enjoy Children’s Theatre productions. She is also a member of CTA’s Songbirds.
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Nancy Polen (Munchkin/Monkey)Nancy’s bio will be coming soon.
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Suzy Cronholm (Munchkin/Monkey)Suzy returns to the CTA stage for the eighteenth consecutive year. Some of her previous roles include Rapunzel’s mother, Cinderella’s nasty stepsister and the Giant’s nervous housekeeper. She loves working with and gives a standing ovation to this amazing group of CTA members – actors, producers, business managers, artists, costume designers and crew. In real life, Suzy and her husband, Bob, live in San Francisco and she receives great coaching from her son, a musician, her daughter, an actress, and her two grandchildren, her biggest fans.
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Jordan Rezai (Munchkin/Monkey)Jordan loves making fairy tales come alive for young children. Last year she was thrilled to have her granddaughter in the audience. She has performed as the Good Witch Red in Sleeping Beauty, as Lady Monet in Rumpelstiltskin, the Fairy Godmother’s helper in Cinderella and Lady Mathilda in last year’s production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. In real life when she is not practicing her most dramatic role as Lady Mathilda she is the CEO of Capital Access Group.
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Vicky Fleishhacker (Munchkin/Monkey)Vicky’s bio will be coming soon.
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Susan Cook (Munchkin/Monkey)Susan joined CTA six years ago and this is her fourth year on stage. Her previous experience was being a germ in her third grade play. She lives in Sonoma and is enjoying her new thespian experiences.
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Dianne Brock (Munchkin/Monkey)Dianne joined Children’s Theatre with an eye on painting sets and being part of the crew behind the scenes. But the action on the stage looked so fun. So, she gave it a try and finds she’s smitten with the challenge of creating a bit of magic from both sides of the curtain.
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Brenda MacLean (Munchkin/Monkey)Brenda is making her twenty-third appearance in a CTA production. Her past roles include the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, Gertrude in Cinderella, and various trees, guards, jokers and ladies of the court. Brenda has held several Board positions in CTA, including President. She and her husband, Don, are proud parents of two adult children and are adoring Grammie and PopPop to their grandchildren: Tyler, MacLean, Makayla and Gordon Marsten and Casey MacLean.
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