Photo by Nathan Gray

Members of the cast of the Wizard of Oz perform during a dress rehersal at the Alverson Centre Theatre on Tuesday night.

Nobody ever accused Alverson Center Theatre owner Robb Alverson of doing anything half-baked.

Alverson is known for his elaborate sets and costumes, large stage casts and huge galas to open his many productions at the ACT in Anderson. Tonight, he opens yet another with “The Wizard of Oz,” set to run through Oct. 12.

The 10-show production aside, “The Wizard of Oz” at ACT will also feature a gala opening, a catered luncheon, a showing of the original 1939 film version and a dinner theater event.

“We are just going to try this out and see how it goes,” Alverson said. “We are testing the water and want people to see all that we do here at the theater.”

The play runs Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and there is a at 3 p.m. matinee on Saturday and Sunday. That schedule will continue Oct. 9-12 the following weekend.

But it’s the event within the production that sets “The Wizard of Oz” apart from any other play they have put on at the ACT. Alverson decided to hold a Wizard of Oz Fest for the families, friends and general public looking for a reason to have fun at the community theater.

On Monday, for the first time since the 1960s, the ACT will open its doors to the movie-going public with a showing of the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz” starring Judy Garland. That event is free and open to the public as Alverson’s way of saying “thank you” to the fans.

On Tuesday, members of the cast will have appearances at several Anderson County schools and on Wednesday, a $15 luncheon will take place at noon at the ACT with food courtesy of the Doo Dah Day Café in Anderson.

The crème de resistance happens Friday night when Alverson and company unveil the renovations done to the balcony of the theater to accommodate dinner theater patrons.

“You get to go through a private entrance and up to the newly renovated balcony for a dinner theater experience,” Alverson said. “We have set it up so that we can do this for any show we want and we wanted to showcase it with this production.”

The dinner theater will be $75 per person and include a three-course meal from Sullivan’s Metropolitan Grill in Anderson.

Of course, the star is the show itself, which features more than 90 cast members from all over the Upstate. Alverson said the show is a classic retelling of the original story complete with colorful costumes, awesome sets and a very energetic cast that will make you think you are in Oz itself.

Tickets for the show are $17 for adults, $15 for seniors and $12 for students. For more information on the show, the events or to purchase tickets to anything associated with the Wizard of Oz Fest, contact the theater at 864.224.9220j or go online to www.acthearesc.com.