<p>The cast of ÒThe Wizard of OzÓ includes Abby Zimmerman as the Tinman, Bailee Neahring Green as the Lion,; Emily Gjovik as Dorothy, Brooke Cross as the Scarecrow, Daria Van de Grift as the Wicked Witch and Claire Helligso as Glinda the Good Witch. Submitted photo</p>

ASTORIA Its the time of year when the Maddox Dance Studio and Little Ballet Theatre go on stage for the annual dance recitals. What started 62 years ago with 11 students performing on the grassy Shively Park lawn, wearing white tutus, with funeral ribbon sashes from Erickson Floral, has evolved over the years into a professionally staged production on the 40- by 60-foot floor of the Astoria High School Auditorium.

The recital is in three parts, featuring students ages 2 to 82. The first performance will be presented at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, June 16, scheduled early before nap time for the tiny performers, and will include the Wizard of Oz ballet. A second show, featuring young performers ages 7 through 18, begins at 5 p.m.

All the dads of the dancers will be proud to see their daughters in performance at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 17, followed by a repeat performance of Wizard of Oz.

The Wizard of Oz, a classic childrens novel by author L. Frank Baum, has become one of the best-known stories in American popular culture, chronicling the adventures of young Dorothy Gale in the land of Oz, after she is swept away from her Kansas farm by a storm.

The original production was choreographed by Patricia Bowman in 1965, who was a founding member of the world-renowned American Ballet Theatre.

Jeanne Peterson, of Maddox Dance Studio, was a member of Dance Congress in New York City, and learned the choreography in 1975. She first produced the ballet in Astoria in 1988, with young JoAnn Slotte, daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Gordon Slotte, as Dorothy. The ballet was repeated in 1991 with Karrie Renfrow of Hammond, the daughter of David and Sandy Renfrow, as Dorothy.

The 2012 production has in the starring role Emily Gjovik of Raymond, Wash., a student at Naselle High School. Toto, her beloved companion, is danced by Maia Mahoney, a student at Warrenton Grade School who has just completed her fourth season as a Junior Blazer Dancer for the Portland Trail Blazers.

The treasured roles of Scarecrow, danced by Brooke Cross, the Tin Man, danced by Abigail Zimmerman, and the Cowardly Lion, by Bailee Nearhing-Green, will warm hearts with laughter as they follow the Yellow Brick Road.

The powerful sorceress of Oz, Glinda the Good Witch, is danced by Claire Helligso , a ninth-grader at Astoria High School, and the primary antagonist, the Wicked Witch of the West, is ably danced and acted by Daria Van de Grift, a senior at Astoria High School.

The music is from the original soundtrack of the movie, The Wizard of Oz, punctuated by music from the ballet La Fille de Gardee. Choreography is adapted from the original of Patricia Bowman by Emily Madsen, Alice Thompson and Jeanne Peterson of the Maddox Dance Studio faculty.

Staging the ballet is Carleta Lewis-Allen, a former Maddox alumna known for staging Shanghaied in Astoria and other offerings by the Astor Street Opry Company, as well as assistant to the coaches of the Astoria High School Dance team. She is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles and has contributed to the interpretations of the characters, combining dance and drama.

The ballet is one hour in length, with pauses but no intermission.

Debbie Barbic, costume mistress of Little Ballet Theatre, has augmented the costumes for the cast. Rhonda and Michael Alderman have designed the lighting and Josef Gault is the sound technician. Astoria High School drama departments Jenni Newton will provide student assistance to the production.

Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for students and seniors and children 6 and younger will be admitted free of charge. Tickets will be available at the door one hour before each performance. Astoria High School is located at 1001 W. Marine Drive. For more information, call Peterson at (503) 738-5983 or Maddox Dance Studio at (503) 861-1971.