By Kathy Curtiss
The Man Behind the Curtain, written and performed by Dr. John Newman, the new Department Chair of Utah Valley University’s Theatrical Arts for Stage and Screen, performs one night only on Thursday, November 14, 2019 at the Boxcar Studio Theatre in Provo, The Boxcar is a delightful setting for The Man Behind the Curtain, about the imaginative author who brought us the beloved Wizard of Oz. Dr. Newman delivers a heartfelt performance of a true account of L. Frank Baum’s life. The 80-minute performance is quite moving, and will be followed by a discussion of Dr. Newman’s research at 8:40 PM, sponsored by Utah Humanities.
John Newman,as children’s author L. Frank Baum, tells the story of how he transformed his fears and failures into the great American fairy tale, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The main character in the play is L. Frank Baum, best known as the author of The Wizard of Oz and 13 other Oz books. The play is set on New Year’s Eve the stage of the Hudson Theatre as one of Baum’s popular theatrical productions has been abruptly cancelled because of its excessive production costs. The “Royal Historian of Oz” offers the expectant audience his own story of how he “found his way to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.”
Before finding his calling as a writer of children’s stories, Baum struggled to make his living as an actor, director, store-owner, baseball team manager, small-town newspaper editor, reporter, and traveling salesman. In The Man Behind the Curtain, L. Frank Baum tells how each of his professions developed his abilities as a storyteller and how he transformed his dreams and nightmares into his best known story. His life intersects with American notables including author Charles Dickens, inventor Thomas Edison, and his mother-in-law, suffragist Matilda Joslyn Gage.
Newman earned a PhD in Educational Theater at New York University, with concentrations in theater for young audiences and playwriting. He has been a professor of theatre at Utah Valley University and Director of UVU’s Theatre for Youth and Education (TYE) Center since 2010, after teaching and directing theatre for 18 years at Highland High School in Salt Lake City. As a playwright, Newman has created authorized stage adaptations of novels by Newbery medalists Avi, Paul Fleischman, Richard Peck, and Jean Lee Latham. The Man Behind the Curtain was premiered during Dr. Newman’s fall 2016 residency at the Open Eye Theater in Margaretville, New York under the direction of Dr. Tania Myren. Newman has also performed the play in eight states in theatres, schools, and libraries including at the United Solo Festival on 42nd Street in New York City and in places associated with the life and writings of L Frank Baum, including Syracuse, NY; Coronado, CA; Aberdeen, SD; and Holland, MI.
Thanks to Jake Buntjer at the Boxcar Studio Theatre for bringing a fascinating venue to Provo, which hosts typically art events, bands, comedy and even karaoke. Dr. Newman’s show suits the venue and promises a lovely evening of theatre.
Boxcar Studios presents The Man Behind the Curtain, written by Dr. John Newman.
Boxcar Studios, 156 W 500 S, Provo, UT 84601 The Theatre is located behind the café to the right, with parking on the street.
7:30 PM with talk back at approximately 8:40 PM
The event is free, although suggested donations are $6.00 general/ $5.00 student or by donation.
Contact: 385-429-2051
Boxcar Studio Facebook Page
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