"The Wizard of Iz" (2010) is an innovative, new performance/video work by nationally recognized choreographer,
performance and video artist Charles Dennis that explores the concept and magic of live filmmaking.
Using a laptop computer, a video camera and a video projector Charles Dennis multi-tasks all the roles in film production -
he is an actor, a dancer, a video cameraman/editor and a vj (video jockey). Using the tornado sequence from
the “The Wizard of Oz” as a point of departure Dennis performs for the screen and with the screen. Joined by guitarist/sound designer Mitch Greenhill, who mixes live guitar and world music loops, Dennis controls and
mixes kaleidoscopic video projections onstage from his laptop computer. He is a Wizard who transforms himself into a variety of other characters through the magic of costume changes and video mixing.
Among the characters he plays, in addition to Wizard, are Cowboy, Dinosaur, Spaceman
and Survivor. As vj Dennis layers and mixes video from a collection of clips that includes both clips
that Dennis shot as well as clips that he assembled and edited from feature films
including “Jurassic Park”, “Gangsters of the Frontier” (a 1940’s b & w western), “Apollo 11” and “The Day After”.
As Charles performs he becomes a live element in a cinematic experience. The result is a psychedelic romp through a
magical visual landscape featuring innovative dance/movement combined with state of the art digital video wizardry.
"The Wizard of Iz" has previously been performed at the Brooklyn Arts Exchange in Brooklyn, NY, Studio A Dance in Los Angeles, Ca., The Malcom Elementary School in Laguna Niguel, Ca. and the Saratoga Springs Art Center.
The running time of "The Wizard of Iz" is 20 minutes.
