WA's Village Theatre 's KIDSTAGE theatre arts education program presents The Wiz, July 31 through Aug. 10 with a cast between 10 and 20 years old.

The Wiz , based on Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, adds funk, soul and slang to the magical land of Oz. The show has music and lyrics by Charles Smalls, with a book by William F. Brown.

The Wiz, the 17th annual KIDSTAGE summer production, is completely "kid driven". Everyone involved with the production, from the director to the designer and performers is 20 or younger.

Village Theatre's KIDSTAGE theatre arts education program is a year round program dedicated to encouraging personal development for young people by using theatre arts to teach creativity and foster an appreciation for live theatre.

The Wiz opened on Broadway in 1975 and starred Stephanie Mills as Dorothy. A movie version of the show was released in 1978 with Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Lena Horne, Richard Pryor and Nipsy Russell. The Wiz runs July 31- Aug. 10. For reservations call (425) 392 2202.

--By Sean McGrath