GRANDVIEW, WV ( LOOTPRESS) – Tuesday marks opening night for Theatre West Virginia’s production of the timeless classic, The Wizard of Oz. As we approach the conclusion of a fantastic 62nd Season for Theatre West Virginia, it’s time to pull back the curtain and get to know some of the folks who help make the magic happen.
Rebekah New will adorn the iconic ruby slippers to embody the one and only Dorothy Gale for the upcoming production.
Don’t let the youthful energy fool you, as Ms. New has been working ardently to develop her craft for over a decade. First beginning her studies with Theatre West Virginia’s Professional Training Academy in 2012, she made her way to the Grandview stage just a year later for, of all things, a production of The Wizard of Oz.
“This Theatre West Virginia season is extremely special to me,” says New. “The Wizard of Oz was my first show at Grandview in 2013, and the music that year was recorded by my late piano teacher John Yurick. I played a Lullaby League munchkin, which was the start of my theatre journey!”
Along with dedication and perseverance, New asserts that support from her family has been crucial in the development of her art. “My grandmother, DeAnna New, first showed The Wizard of Oz to my cousins and I when I was six, so this has always been an important story we have enjoyed together,” she says. “I would [also] like to give a shout-out to my grandparents, Joe Dale & DeAnna, and Rita & John Pelfrey for always supporting my art and loving me!”
New’s past stage work with Theatre West Virginia includes turns as Valentine in Rocket Boys, Ancestor in the Addams Family, Allifair in Hatfields and McCoys, and the titular role in Willy Wonka.
She has also taken on the role of Mary Poppins in a production for Woodrow Wilson High School, as well as Edna in a production of Bright Star for the University of Kentucky where she currently studies Theatre and Political Science, as well as Appalachian Studies.
“It is crucial to me that people understand how important my Appalachian heritage is to me,” she explains. “All my family is from Southern West Virginia, so I take a lot of pride in my region and strive to make it a wonderful place to live.”
Off the stage, New can be found hiking & kayaking, reading, playing instruments, and spending time with family. She is also passionate about film photography, Super 8 mm film, and stop-motion animation, drawing inspiration from such works as Krokodil Gena (1969’s Gena the Crocodile), Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride, Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox, and Alice – Jan Švankmajer’s 1988 adaptation of the classic children’s book.
Theatre West Virginia’s production of The Wizard of Oz for its 62nd season is set to open Tuesday, with additional shows scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, contingent on weather conditions. Additional LOOTPRESS coverage of Theatre West Virginia’s Wizard of Oz can be found here, and more information can be found here at the Theatre West Virginia website.