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<\/p>\nCanine actors add authenticity, personality, energy and a dash of cuteness to any theatrical production \u2013 which is why Prather Entertainment has cast three dogs to play Toto in its upcoming production of \u201cThe Wizard of Oz.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Courtesy of Renee Beck<\/p>\n
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Renee Beck<\/p>\n
Bella, pictured in her motorized Ferrari, is a Florida Everblades fan. <\/p>\n
The first of this terrific trio is Bella, a 4-year-old Yorkshire terrier. When she\u2019s not onstage or in rehearsals, Bella likes to shop with her person, Renee Beck. Her fave is Wal-Mart, where she\u2019s an honorary greeter. She\u2019s also a huge fan of the Florida Everblades.<\/p>\n
Kobe is a 3-year-old Yorkie. In addition to exuding tons of talent, Kobe\u2019s been trained by his peeps, Nancy and Albert Velez, to close doors and respond to a host of other commands.<\/p>\n
![\"Luna](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781801890_776_.jpeg\"\/)
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Courtesy of Kristine Reed.<\/p>\n
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Kristine Reed<\/p>\n
Luna Rose with her person, Kristine Reed.<\/p>\n
Luna Rose is a 3-year-old Yorkie Biewer terrier, a poster child for \u201cdogged determination.\u201d One time, she and her person were playing fetch in the living room and Luna\u2019s ball rolled under the coffee table. Rather than bark for help, Luna bent down and pawed at the ball until she could reach it. Then she bounded back for another round of fetch.<\/p>\n
Bella, Kobe and Luna Rose will take turns performing onstage since a musical like \u201cThe Wizard of Oz\u201d is pretty demanding \u2013 not just for the performers but their owners.<\/p>\n
The show runs Wednesday through Sunday for six and a half weeks, with matinees and evening performances most Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. That\u2019s as many as nine shows a week and each show lasts more than two and a half hours including intermission.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Wizard of Oz\u201d is at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre June 26 through Aug. 8.<\/p>\n
![\"Bella](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781801891_544_.jpeg\"\/)
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WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n
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WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n
Bella showed up for auditions in a picnic basket held by her ‘mom,’ Renee Beck. <\/p>\n
MORE INFORMATION:<\/p>\n
Auditions for Toto were held May 31.<\/p>\n
Watch \u201cDogs Steal the Spotlight at Broadway Palm.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n Nine dogs attended the audition.<\/p>\n Read\/hear, \u201cCould your terrier play Toto in \u2018Wizard of Oz\u2019? Broadway Palm Wants to Know.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n During the performances, Toto is held by Dorothy and the Lion. He walks on a leash alongside Dorothy and Mrs. Gulch. And there\u2019s one scene where Toto runs onstage into Dorothy\u2019s arms. Bella, Kobe and Luna Rose demonstrated these skills during their initial meet-and-greet on June 15 with Director Victor Legarreta, Meghan Renee Wombles, who plays Dorothy, and her understudy, Rilyn Dick.<\/p>\n During shows, each dog will be assigned a \u201cdog handler.\u201d Owners are nonetheless encouraged remain backstage with their pets in a designated area.<\/p>\n Courtesy of Meghan Renee Wombles<\/p>\n \/<\/p>\n Meghan Renee Wombles website<\/p>\n Meg Wombles plays Dorothy in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre. <\/p>\n The cast<\/p>\n Meghan Renee Wombles stars as Dorothy. “Meg” makes her Broadway Palm debut in the role. Recent favorite credits include Nemo in the TYA world premiere of \u201cFinding Nemo,\u201d Penny Pingleton in \u201cHairspray,\u201d Sophie Sheridan in “Momma Mia!” and Frenchy in “Grease.” She is a recent graduate of Lipscomb University in Nashville, where she obtained a B.F.A. in musical theatre.<\/p>\n Courtesy of Jennifer Dick<\/p>\n \/<\/p>\n Jennifer Dick <\/p>\n Rilyn Dick is Dorothy’s understudy.<\/p>\n Rilyn Dick is Dorothy\u2019s understudy, as well as a Munchkin and member of the ensemble. She is a sophomore at Florida Southern College, where she is studying musical theatre and computer science. She\u2019s done eight shows at Broadway Palm, including work in the ensemble of \u201cThe Little Mermaid\u201d and \u201cThe Wizard of Oz.\u201d She also appeared in \u201cSpring Awakening\u201d for Arts Bonita, numerous shows at Cultural Park Theatre and as Anne Boleyn in \u201cSix\u201d and racy Fastrada in \u201cPippin\u201d at North Fort Myers High, as well as Olaf in \u201cFrozen.\u201d For a survey of Dick\u2019s theatrical work from the age of 3, hear\/read: \u201cStage mom Jennifer Dick is all about supporting her daughter Rilyn’s passion for theater.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n Stephen Sandham (\u201cFiddler on the Roof,\u201d \u201cInto the Woods,\u201d \u201cHit Me with Your Best Shot\u201d and \u201cA Christmas Carol\u201d) is the Scarecrow, Jordan Ross Weinhold (\u201cA Christmas Carol,\u201d \u201cThe Mousetrap,\u201d \u201cCaught in the Net,\u201d \u201cLove, Lies and the Lottery\u201d and \u201cUnnecessary Farce\u201d at Broadway Palm) is the Cowardly Lion and Zeke and Jeff Gallup (\u201cOff Broadway,\u201d \u201cSkyscraper,\u201d \u201cSingfeld\u201d and \u201cWhite Christmas\u201d at Goodspeed Musicals) are the Tin Man and Hickory.<\/p>\n Alex Dagg plays Uncle Henry (and the Gate Keeper) and Jerry Sciarrio is Professor Marvel and the Wizard of Oz.<\/p>\n McKenzie Tipton is Aunt Em and the good witch Glinda. A UCO graduate with a BM in Musical Theater, she recently toured with the bagpipe band Wolgemut, flew as an aerialist for Cirqa Brava and danced in The Crystal’s Nutcracker.<\/p>\n Kristina Miranda Sloan is Miss Gulch and the Wicked Witch. The University of Arizona graduate\u2019s favorite roles include Katharine in \u201cKiss Me Kate\u201d with Post Playhouse and Miss Andrew\/Bird Woman in \u201cMary Poppins\u201d with Circa \u201921.<\/p>\n Courtesy of Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre<\/p>\n \/<\/p>\n Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre <\/p>\n Director Victor Legaretta has appeared as an actor in more than 400 performances of ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ <\/p>\n The director<\/p>\n Victor Legaretta has directed hundreds of plays and musicals. He is no stranger to Broadway Palm, having written, directed, or starred in dozens of productions here and at Prather Entertainment\u2019s sister theater in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. <\/p>\n As an actor, Legaretta has appeared in nearly 400 performances of \u201cThe Wizard of Oz,\u201d having played all three of Dorothy\u2019s \u201cfriends,\u201d most notably the Lion on the 2017-2018 national tour. Returning to the Palm to finally direct this musical is such a full circle moment and proves \u201cThere\u2019s no place like home.\u201d<\/p>\n Legaretta is also an accomplished playwright and chef. Follow him on all social platforms @TheRealChefVic.<\/p>\n Historical note<\/p>\n In the movie, Toto was played by a female Cairn terrier named Terry. Because she was expressive, obedient, and able to convey emotion without words, Terry was cast in the role of Toto even though the role called for a male.<\/p>\n Judy Garland, who was just 16 at the time, formed a special bond with Terry and wanted to adopt her. However, the dog\u2019s owner and trainer, Carl Spitz, refused. Because of Terry\u2019s natural charisma and uncanny ability to understand what was expected of her in ways that frequently astonished the cast and crew, he knew that other directors would want to cast her in their movies as well.<\/p>\n Prior to \u201cThe Wizard of Oz,\u201d Terry had already appeared in 20 films, including \u201cReady for Love\u201d with Ida Lupino and \u201cBright Eyes\u201d with Shirley Temple in 1934. By the time Terry died at the age of 11 in 1945, her film credits were far more extensive than many of her human contemporaries.<\/p>\n Despite being one of the most famous dogs in history Toto never received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. That honor has been reserved, to date for just three dogs: Strongheart, Lassie and Rin Tin Tin.<\/p>\n Following a campaign by fans and historians, a memorial for Terry was erected at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in 2011. It features a bronze statue and plaque, a fitting tribute to a dog who helped define one of cinema\u2019s most enduring classics.<\/p>\n Toto has been played by other dogs in remakes and spin-offs, such as \u201cReturn to Oz\u201d (1985) and \u201cEmerald City\u201d (2017). Toto returned to the land of Oz in \u201cWicked: For Good.\u201d<\/p>\n Broadway also has a tradition of including dogs in productions, such as the 2012 revival of \u201cAnnie\u201d (in which a 2-year-old named Sunny portrayed the lovable mutt Annie finds, adopts and names Sandy), \u201cLegally Blonde The Musical\u201d (in which a Chihuahua named Chico played Elle Woods\u2019 handbag pooch Bruiser and Chloe played Paulette\u2019s pup Rufus) and the 2014 production of \u201cLady Day at Emerson\u2019s Bar & Grill (in which a dog named Roxie played Billie Holliday\u2019s canine companion, Pepi).<\/p>\n![\"Meg](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781801891_206_.jpeg\"\/)
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