CALENDAR

Acoustic Open Mic — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Liquidity Aleworks, 8 N. Main St., Mount Airy. Dave Koronet hosts. 301471-0889. D.Koronet@att.net.

FILM

FAC After Hours: Art Center Bijou — 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at FAC Art Center, 5 E. Second St., Frederick. Each month presents films that fall under one general theme in order to cultivate discussion about film as a mode of artistic expression.

301-662-4190. frederickartscouncil. org/news-events/calendar-grid.

Wednesday April 12

ETCETERA

Sensory Program for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities: Nature Center Animals — 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Walkersville Public Library, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. Fountain Rock Nature Center will bring some live critters to show-and-tell. 18 and older. 301-600-8200. fcpl.org.

Thacher & Rye Local Weds Dinner

Series — 7 p.m. at Thacher & Rye, 228 N. Market St., Frederick. A culinary journey featuring Frederick’s local craft beverage businesses with a 3-course menu crafted by Chef Bryan Voltaggio and team. Reservations recommended. 240-332-3186. info@thacherandrye. com. thacherandrye.com.

HEALTH

Free Drop-In Yoga — 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at The Common Market Co-op, 927 W. Seventh St., Frederick. All levels. 301663-3416. aharmon@commonmarket. coop.

MUSIC

The Temptations — 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. The Temptations, often referred to as “American Music Royalty,” are worldrenowned superstars of entertainment, revered for their phenomenal catalog of music and prolific career. $125. 301600-2868. bhiller@cityoffrederickmd. gov. weinbergcenter.org/shows/ the-temptations.

Thursday April 13

FAMILY

Paws to Read with Go Team Therapy Dogs — 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Walkersville Public Library, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. Join Go Team Therapy Dogs to improve your reading confidence and make a new friend when you read aloud to a therapy dog. All ages. 301-600-8200. awadding@ frederickcountymd.gov. fcpl.org.

(Continued from 13) version of the “Wizard of Oz” that allows for the same relationship between experienced actors and student dancers. Grim says her new production is different from other versions of the story. It hews closer to the book by L. Frank Baum than to the 1939 Hollywood film adaptation starring Judy Garland but is rare among all versions for telling the story from the perspective of Dorothy’s dog, Toto.

“At first, it was a little strange to be offered the role of Toto,” said Adam Blackstock, a grown man with 20 years of community theater experience who now plays the small dog. “Then, when you read the script, you’re like, ‘OK, I get it. He’s the one who connects with the audience. He’s the one who narrates the introduction to a lot of the scenes.’ He’s almost like another character who is equal to the Scarecrow and the Lion, so it isn’t as weird as you would think.”

He said being one of the more experienced actors in the show places him in a mentorship role for the students, but he and the other adults in the show have been delightfully surprised to discover that the teaching and learning goes both ways.

“A lot of the adults, we are not naturally the best dancers,” he said. “The dancers are very giving of their

If You Go

“Wizard of Oz” runs one weekend only at 7:30 p.m. April 7 and 2 and 7 p.m. April 8 at the Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. A special presentation will take place for Girl Scouts following the Saturday matinee. Tickets range from $16 to $30 and are available at weinbergcenter.org.

time — the times when they are actually teaching us a step or reviewing a step.”

Grim said the truly unique aspect of the show is the music. She shopped around many songwriters to find a variety of new dance tunes that cover the full range of her school’s offerings, including tap, ballet and contemporary. She believes the most notable piece is the “Emerald City” number, which she describes as a 1920s-style musical.

“It has a pretty up-tempo beat, and it has all of the main characters,” she said. “It’s the most up-tempo number in the production.”

Like the “Alice” production before it, Grim wants the “Wizard of Oz” to be a dance company staple for years to come, so the dancers at different levels can move into more difficult roles as they gain experience.

“This is a dance repertoire company, and that is the goal of a repertoire company: to have a rep,” she said. “Other companies will do the ‘Nutcracker.’ This is my ‘Nutcracker.’”

After getting accustomed to the new show over a few cycles, Grim hopes to return to the “Alice in Wonderland” production at some point, possibly alternating it with the “Wizard of Oz” year over year. She said many of the company’s now-professional alumni look back fondly at that original production and express interest in volunteering for the adult lead roles.

Blackstock said a lot of children’s theater and dance companies have trouble making shows that adults find entertaining, but he thinks OVT has solved that problem with their intentional mixing of talent levels.

“I think one of the benefits of it being a blended cast, in terms of being a diverse age range and actors and dancers coming together, is the show is something that will appeal to all ages,” he said. “I think as an audience member, you like seeing someone on the stage who reminds you of you. Someone who is an adult might reluctantly see something like this if the entire cast was young people.”

Erik Anderson’s MA in medieval literature only qualifies him to write about Chaucer, but he’s going to tell you about local theater anyway.

10am -2pm

13 unique vendors with home bakedgoods, handmadegoods,handmade jewelr y, plants,f lowers, andcommerciallymademerchandisetoo!

April8- Old Fireman’sBBQ /April 15 -Rock&Rollin’Roasters

April2 2- CookingwithGreece

MAKE

Three Dog Night

SUNDAY, APRIL 16 | 6:00 PM

FREDERICK SPEAKER SERIES

Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour

THURSDAY, APRIL 20 | 7:30 PM

Neil Berg’s The 60’s: Peace, Love & Rock N’ Roll

FRIDAY, APRIL 21 | 8:00 PM

Afrique en Cirque by Cirque Kalabanté

SUNDAY, APRIL 23 | 6:30 PM

PLUS UPCOMING FILMS...

WONDER BOOK CLASSIC FILM SERIES

East of Eden (1955)

THURSDAY, APRIL 13 | 7:30 PM

Tom Jones (1963)

THURSDAY, APRIL 27 | 7:30 PM

Frederick Symphony Orchestra - “Broadway and Beyond”

SUNDAY, APRIL 30 | 3:00 PM

Ngaiire

First Nations Papua New Guinean singer/songwriter

THURSDAY, MAY 4 | 7:30 PM

Afrique en Cirque

SILENT FILM SERIES

Captain January (1924)

SATURDAY, APRIL 22 | 2:00 PM

Show People (1928)

SATURDAY, APRIL 22 | 8:00 PM