Official Press Release

SIR PATRICK STEWART TO JOIN VARIOUS CAST and CREW on COMIC-CON’s “DOROTHY OF OZ” PANEL

Actor Patrick Stewart will make his first San Diego Comic-Con appearance to discuss Summertime Entertainment’s future animated film; First footage and music to be debuted at Saturday, July 23^rd panel in Hall H

San Diego, Calif., July 15, 2011 – Actor Patrick Stewart is set to join various cast and crew of DOROTHY OF OZ for the animated musical’s big Comic-Con debut.  A long time Comic-Con fan favorite for his revered work in the Sci-Fi world via “Star Trek: the Next Generation” and the “X-Men” film franchise, this marks Stewart’s first public appearance at the original San Diego Con.

During the panel “Further Over the Rainbow: A First Look at Dorothy of Oz,” approximately 6500 lucky fans will have a chance to be the first to see a first reveal of footage and clips, and exclusive cast out-takes from the 2012 film starring Lea Michele (Dorothy), Martin Short (The Jester), Jim Belushi (Lion), Dan Aykroyd (Scarecrow), Kelsey Grammer (The Tin Man), Megan Hilty (China Princess), Hugh Dancy (Marshall Mallow), Oliver Platt (Wiser the Owl), and Patrick Stewart (Tugg). The panel will be moderated by “Access Hollywood’s” Scott Mantz. The event will take place from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Saturday, July 23 at San Diego Convention Center’s Hall H.

Broadway and television actress Megan Hilty, DOROTHY OF OZ’s China Princess, also known for starring in the ‘Wicked’ musical and Steven Spielberg’s upcoming NBC series ‘Smash!’, is also scheduled to perform an exclusive song from the animated musical.

She and Stewart – who voices “Tugg,” a wise old tree and who is a new character in the further book adaptations of the classic Oz franchise – will join other cast and crew from the film including Roger Baum, author and creator of “Dorothy of Oz;” composer Deborah Lurie; producers Bonne Radford and Ryan Carroll, and some other surprise special guests. Together, they will all discuss the making of the film produced by Summertime Entertainment.  An audience Q&A will follow the presentation.

 

 

About the panel

ROGER BAUM is the great-grandson of L. Frank Baum, the original creator of the popular and beloved fairy tales, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” The film is based on Roger Stanton Baum’s adventure books that are a continuation of the Oz franchise. A former banker and stockbroker, Baum is now a full-time children’s author and has written, “The Oz Odyssey,” “The Oz Odyssey II,” “Dorothy of Oz,” “Candy Cane: An Oz Christmas Tale, “Toto in Candy Land of Oz,” and many others.

RYAN CARROLL co-founded Summertime Entertainment with his brother Roland Carroll, and both are serving as Producers on DOROTHY OF OZ. Previous to founding Summertime Entertainment, Carroll independently produced numerous films released by various distributors including MGM and United Artists, which played at festivals such as Sundance and Slamdance. Carroll began his career in the entertainment industry at the world-famous Goodman School of Drama at DePaul University.

MEGAN HILTY made her Broadway debut as Glinda in Wicked. Hilty went on to perform that role in the National Tour and in Los Angeles. Hilty then starred in Two by Two, as part of the Reprise Series in Los Angeles, opposite Jason Alexander, Steve Webber and Faith Prince. Among her television credits are: FOX’S Bones; TNT’s The Closer; ABC’s Desperate Housewives; CBS’ CSI; ABC’s Ugly Betty; ABC’s Eli Stone; and Disney Channel’s The Suite Life of Zach & Cody.

Hilty’s voice can be heard on Disney Channel’s two series, The Secret Life of Magic Ghourd and Phineas & Ferb; Nick at Nite’s Glen Martin DDS; FOX’s American Dad; and as the singing Snow White in DreamWorks’ Shrek the Third. Next, her voice will be heard in Disney’s Tinker Bell & The Pixie Hollow Games. Hilty will next be seen on NBC’s new show SMASH!

DEBORAH LURIE was recently added to score the animated film. Her most recent projects include: Walt Disney Pictures and Rickshaw Production’s Prom; Paramount’s Justin Bieber: Never Say Never; Relativity Media’s Dear John; Focus Features’ 9. Also an orchestrator, arranger and producer of pop, rock and theater music, Lurie has worked frequently with Danny Elfman, composing additional music for Universal Pictures’ Wanted; Columbia Pictures’ Spiderman 3; and the IMAX film Deep Sea: 3D as well as arranging/orchestrating for Warner Bros.’ Charlie And The Chocolate Factory and Walt Disney Pictures’ Alice in Wonderland.

PATRICK STEWART has appeared in countless iconic roles including Captain Jean-Luc Picard on CBS’ Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor Charles Xavier in 20^th Century Fox’s X-Men. His vocal talents can be heard on FOX’s series Family Guy and American Dad, and in animated films such as DreamWorks’ Prince of Egypt and Paramount Pictures’ Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius. Stewart is currently performing in “The Merchant of Venice,” in the UK. A Tony, Golden Globe and Emmy nominee, Stewart will lend his experienced character voice to round out the “Oz” cast.

SCOTT MANTZ (Moderator) is the resident film critic and film segment producer for Access Hollywood. He has his own movie page on AccessHollywood.com, where the show highlights his latest in-depth reviews, blogs and weekly box office reports. Mantz can be seen every weekend on the show’s “MovieMantz Weekend Review.” He has been a guest correspondent on Bravo TV’s 13 Scary Movie Moments and 30 Even Scarier Movie Moments, as well as A&E’s popular Biography series for specials on Tom Cruise and Robert De Niro.

Other surprise guests to be revealed at panel.