L. Frank Baum’s classic novel is coming to life in “The Wizard of Oz — Young Performers’ Edition” this weekend.
The show, which opens at 7 p.m. today, tells the well-known story of Dorothy Gale who is swept away by a tornado from her Kansas farm to the incredible land of Oz. As she travels the yellow brick road, she encounters a host of whimsical charaters: good witches, bad witches, animals that talk, scarecrows that walk and things magical to behold.
Curtain times are 7 p.m. today and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday in the Connie Meek Auditorium at Crawfordsville High School.
The play is written by L. Frank Baum with music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg.
The local production features catchy songs, fun dance numbers and several young performers from Crawfordsville Middle School.
Ticket prices are $8 for adults and $6 for students. All tickets are online pre-sale only. To purchase tickets, visit https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/67401/.
Production of this iconic and fanciful story boasts an experienced cast of Shylah Hall (Dorothy), Henry Bannon (Scarecrow), Aailyah Keys (Tin Man), Jack Sweet (Lion), Hope Taylor (Wicked Witch of the West) and Amelia Wilkinson (Glinda).
Hall, who has performed in Moana and Little Mermaid, loves to sing and dance.
“I love how we can get a bunch of people together with the same hobbies as me and create a great show to entertain our school,” she said.
Bannon also likes to perform in front of a crowd, and was in last year’s production. He is excited to have earned a good part this year.
For Keys, The Wizard of Oz is her third production.
“I really love being able to express myself on stage,” she said. “I also love getting to have a top song in the show.”
Keys also is looking forward to a scene where Scarecrow’s legs are thrown across the stage and as the Tin Man she gets to poke a little fun at him.
Sweet has only been in one other production, but loves everything about theater. He is proud of the work he has put into the production to learn his two songs.
Taylor has years of experience on stage, having participated in 14 shows at school and with the Vanity Theater. She is looking forward to all the crazy antics she get to do as the Wicked Witch of the West.
“The most challenging part of this show was memorizing my death monologue and making sure I am getting every word in the right oder,” Taylor said.
Wilkinson, who has performed on stage twice before, also will be concentrating on her lines, taking her voice up an octave, and trying to keep from having a sneezing fit in response to Taylor’s broom.
All of the main cast members expressed how much they have enjoyed connecting with one another as well as the other students involved in the production.
“My favorite part is making new friendships and being able to show loved ones how well we do this,” Sweet said.
