By Garrick R. Black II, Youth Excellence Performing Arts Workshop

On April 6, 2013, the day was filled with anticipation and excitement as we heard from each character of Youth Excellence Performing Arts Workshop’s (YEPAW) encore presentation of The Wiz at the Akron Civic Theatre.

Under the direction of Mr. Myron Lewis, and in conjunction with our Artistic Director Leslie Parker-Barnes and our Executive Director Alexandra Wright, some 50 area YEPAW participants graced the stage to share an adaptation of this timeless coming of age story.  On her journey through Oz, Dorothy, our heroine, determines her path, develops courage to move forward, learns to love herself and others, and finds her way home. Dorothy played by Ms. Morgan Lett took the audience along with her on a thrilling journey of self-discovery and wonderment with every scene and song. Accompanied by the Scarecrow (Ernest “Tray” Johnson), the Tinman (Joshua Porter) and the Lion (Marcus M. Martin) Dorothy was met with magical witches, the frightening Wiz (Garrick Black II), poison poppies, a gang of monkeys and evil forces that threatened to put an end to her and her friends. However, even in the face of adversity, Dorothy eventually made it home to Aunt Em and Uncle Henry, and to herself.