By AARON RICCA/The Bee

KINGMAN – Seek out local performing arts for an escape from the heat this weekend.

The Kingman Center for the Arts and Beale Street Theater production of “Dorothy in Wonderland” debuts at 7 p.m. Thursday at Kingman High School and runs through Saturday.

A mashup of two classic tales, “Alice In Wonderland” and “The Wizard of Oz”, “Dorothy In Wonderland” is a play for the whole family. The book is by Brian D. Taylor, music by Bill Francoeur and lyrics by Scott DeTurk. The local production is directed by Sidney Valdez and assistant directed by Jennifer Schuster.

Valdez, a former KHS drama student and 2015 graduate, said the last few Beale Street plays were geared toward actors and actresses in the ages of teens and older. She was looking for something for younger actors and stumbled across “Dorothy” online.

“I just fell in love and felt it’s time to bring back children to come in and audition as well,” Valdez said. “The show is really fun, and I wanted to bring in something creative for the summer.”

This is Beale Street Theater’s tenth production since their beginning in 2016 and is a collaboration between Kingman Center for the Arts and the local high school drama programs. The public is catching on.

According to Kingman Center for the Arts Executive Director Kristina Michelson, the Kingman High School Auditorium was nearly filled for each of the six performances of “Peter Pan” last summer. 

About 1,500 tickets were sold.

What started as a grassroots project has turned into a Kingman staple, even attracting artists from throughout the county.

“Beale Street Theater has grown so much that people from Bullhead City are participating,” Valdez said. “We have two (Dorothy in Wonderland) actors who drove up for each rehearsal.”

Showtimes are 7 p.m. July 19-21 with a 1 p.m. matinee Saturday. Performances are at Kingman High School, 4182 N. Bank St. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children and available at the door, online at www.bealestreettheater.com, at The Gallery for Kingman Center for the Arts at 208 E. Beale St.

For more information, call 385-319-5238.