But it is Giovinazzo’s Sophie that really gives the show its heart, making the mother-daughter pairing believable and tender. Just as she did as Beth in LCP’s “Little Women,” Giovinazzo has a simple, sincere quality, a sort of girl-next-door quality that makes her so likeable.
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Courtney Giovinazzo – Monologue Reel
Courtney Giovinazzo – Journey to the Past
Courtney Giovinazzo – Vocal Reel
Giovinazzo as the princess Amneris is delightfully ditzy as she cavorts through her substantial wardrobe in “My Strongest Suit” (which has a bit of Glenda’s “Popular“ from “Wicked” vibe) and has fun with Rice’s lyrics such as “I would rather wear a barrel than conservative apparel.”
Courtney Giovinazzo summons a substantial amount of earnest charm and extreme friendliness as Dorothy Gale—a troubled girl who is quickly swept by tornado from her small town midwestern farm to a magical land where she befriends a number of locals on her way to seek the wisdom of the one guy who might be able to help her leave.
I really enjoyed Giovinazzo’s kind and wise Beth. You see a gentleness and fondness in the way she smiles at her siblings and mother when they speak. And her voice is sweet and angelic, drifting effortlessly like a cloud, so perfect for her thoughtful, serene character.