Work is well underway to bring “The Wizard of OZ” to the Paul L. Baumgardner Auditorium April 4-6. Practices are taking place and the set is being built. This classical musical is based on the 1900 children's novel written by author L. Frank Baum and made famous by the 1939 movie featuring Judy Garland as Dorothy.
“Practices are going well. The actors are hard at work perfecting their lines and songs, and the stage crew is putting together the set,” said Director Grace Brown.
Throughout the performance, the audience will enjoy a litany of songs that have endured for generations, including “We’re off to See the Wizard”, “Ding Dong, the Witch is Dead”, and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
This year’s cast includes Noelle Revay as Dorothy, Tristan West as the Scarecrow, AJ Kurta as the Tinman, Stoch Skoczen as the Lion, Aiden Hooven as the Wizard, Hannah Jasany as Glinda the Good Witch, and Julia Havlin as the Wicked Witch of the West.
Other members of the cast are Dahlia Castillo, Camden Connell, Divina DeNardis, Frankie Domzalski, Logan Fesler, AJ Firmanty, Emma Gasper, Julia Havlin, Nathalya Hernandez, Hannah Jasany, Molly Kapinski, Ari Kovar, Hailey Lamont, Sophia McGraw, Isabela Melendez, Audrey Morway,Julia Schaffer, Eloise Streitman, Alyssa Tosado, Samantha Vallee, Zachary Wittenmyer, and Natalia Yon.
The cast of Munchkins include Madilyn Morway, Vera Prause, Grace Pasterkiewicz, Alex Cable, Adeline Griffith, Micaela (Mica) Rodriguez, Joelyn Foust-Williams, Audrey Thomas, River Apathy, Quinn Zahand, Maryn Podoll, Stali Kovar, and Declan McCarthy
Members of the pit crew include Giada Amato, Aleah Archacki, Dominic Bonds, Sophia Cann, Suellyn Crook, Jemma D’Amico, Nora Gannon, Christopher Goldsworth, Orin Green, Garrett Heath, Ayden Jasany, Skylar Johnson, Ava Kmetz, Brianna Knill, Isaiah Lang, Laila Lengyel, Avery Miller, Rhys Munoz, Julia Nichols, Madison Pflug, Shaelynn Piwinski, Abram Podoll, Madison Rabant, Karissa Tritsarolis, and Kayleigh Tyna.
Pit Orchestra members are Brody Domzalski, Avram Friedt, Elijah Lang, and Antonio McCladdie. Musical director is Noah Hamrick and Choreographer is Chelsey Kovar.
Performance dates are April 4 and 5 at 7 p.m. and April 6 at 2 p.m. Information on how to purchase tickets online will be made available soon.
Pictured: Set construction is underway for Dorothy’s house, the witch’s castle, and the trees for the Haunted Forest.
