REHEARSING — Robert J. Gaudio, front, will portray L. Frank Baum during Saturday’s performance of Cloak and Dagger On the Air’s “Ozma of Oz.” Ralph Parissi, back, will portray Tiktok the Mechanical Man. -- Contributed

WEIRTON — A brand-new adaptation of the classic 1907 novel “Ozma of Oz,” by L. Frank Baum, will be presented live by Cloak and Dagger On the Air at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Top of West Virginia Convention and Visitors Bureau, located at 243 Three Springs Drive, Suite 17, in Weirton.

The third installment in Baum’s legendary series of books about the Land of Oz will be performed as a live audio drama, complete with music and sound effects.

“Ozma of Oz” continues the theater troupe’s trek through Baum’s classic stories, as this time, Dorothy Gale, portrayed by Anacelia Parissi, is swept away in a torrential storm on her way to Australia with her Uncle Henry. The storm transports her to the Land of Ev — not far from Oz — where she is reunited with the Scarecrow, portrayed by Noah Hilton; the Tin Woodman, played by David Gaudio; and the Cowardly Lion, played by Maura Danielle Reiff-Parissi.

Dorothy joins Princess Ozma, the ruler of Oz, portrayed by Micah Underwood, in her quest to free the royal family of Ev from the clutches of Roquat the Nome King, played by Jeffrey Holmes. Along the way, they encounter fun and delightful new characters, including the Hungry Tiger, played by Dave Zanieski; Billina the Yellow Hen, played by Clare McDonald; and Tiktok the Mechanical Man, as played by Ralph Parissi. Robert Gaudio portrays Baum and serves as narrator for the story.

Cloak and Dagger On the Air Co-Executive Producer Pete Fernbaugh, author of the adaption, stated, “Last year, we adapted L. Frank Baum’s first two books in the Oz series — ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,’ and ‘The Marvelous Land of Oz,’ and our audience enjoyed them so much, we decided to keep going.”

“These stories enchant people of all ages with their imaginative scenarios and memorable characters,” Fernbaugh continued. “The tale is fast-paced, the dialogue is witty and subversive and the values are timeless. It’s no wonder there are societies, scholars and fan communities devoted to Baum’s works more than a century after his death.”

Rounding out the cast will be Bethany Fernbaugh, Kami Martin, Karissa Martin, Malachi McClendon and Nathaniel McClendon. Classical pianist Roberta Mizok Fedoush provides the score, based on music written for Baum’s various musicals and the Holy Foley Molies will create the live sound effects.

Admission to the production is free, although donations to help with production costs are welcome. Doors open at 3:30 p.m., with a set of Americana music performed by musician and troubadour R.J. Gaudio. Light refreshments will be available. For those who are unable to attend, the event will be live-streamed through the Ohio Valley Cloak and Dagger Co.’s Facebook page, where information or updates on live and recorded productions can also be found.

“We encourage folks to set aside some extra time to check out the local businesses around us,” Fernbaugh concluded. “Three Springs Drive is filled with many dining and shopping opportunities. We hope our show can bring some traffic their way.”

The series celebrates audio drama from all eras. By reimagining classic radio dramas and literary works, and premiering original stories written and produced by Fernbaugh, Cloak and Dagger strives to give audiences an immersive experience that engages the theater of their imagination in creating a fully-realized storytelling adventure.