Everyone should be “Off to see the Wizard” on the weekend of November 2 and 3 on the WHS stage as the WHS Vocal Music department presents “The Wizard of Oz”.
“The Wizard of Oz” is an adaptation of L. Frank Baum's 1900 children's fantasy novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,
The WHS production is being directed by WHS vocal music instructor Deanna Schockmann and instructor Katie Johnson.
“’The Wizard of Oz’ has been a major undertaking with a cast and crew of 80 plus people ranging from fourth grade up to twelfth grade and one dog,” said director Schockmann! “My favorite part of the show so far has been developing the choreography and designing the hats for the poppies. I'm hopeful, along with the music, dialogue and sets, they will make a big splash!”
Taking on the part of Dorothy is Kathryn Lomax. Ayden Burdick will portray Hank/Scarecrow; Elijah Long, Hickory/Tinman; Gabe Wassman will portray Zeke/Lion; Aleah Minks will portray Ms. Gulch/West Witch.
“This is the largest cast I have ever directed”, said Johnson. “It has been a lot of fun working with this group. We have had a lot of laughs. This will be a great show. We hope everyone comes out to support our students.”
Chloey Brazel will portray Glinda, the Good Witch; Dillan Ellison will portray Professor/Oz; Jovi Robertson will portray Aunt Em/Tree; Dakoda Jensen will portray Uncle Henry/Guard to Oz and Zeva will take the part of Toto.
Senior Kathryn Lomax, Dorothy, is excited about taking on the lead.
“The most exciting thing is watching it all come together. It took a long time for everyone to memorize lines and get the blocking right. Getting and staying in character and not getting distracted is the most challenging part,” she said.
Lomax has not seen the movie and was not very familiar with the storyline before landing the role. Her favorite parts are singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “Jitterbug.”
“It’s been an experience with the elementary kids. We didn’t have any kids in the last one and it is different,” Lomax said.
Lomax played the Minstrel in “Once Upon a Mattress” in 2022.
Munchkins include: Henry Adler, Abegail Alberts, Elijah Branhan, Audree Callahan, MaryAnn Chaffin, Serenity Crowe, Link Ferguson, Sage Garrison, Clara Hamby, Grace Long, Cabella Phillips, Syngen Rivera, Mustang Salley and Lily Shafton.
“The stage version is a bit different than the popular movie,” said Johnson. “The Jitterbug number isn’t in the movie but it is a cute part of the stage production.”
Crows include: Jai Lynn Black, Trinity Sandstrom, and Michael Schliefert.
Aleah Minks, Wicked Witch of the West, said, “We are at that weird stage of production between ‘we've got this’ and ‘I'm not ready.’ Kind of in limbo, but it is that way with every show.”
“I have a feeling this is going to be something the audience will be very excited to see. It will stick with them for a very long time and hopefully will inspire some to join the magic of theater as well.”
Minks is familiar with the movie version and with the stage. She acts in plays at The Liberty Center in Sedalia. She has been in 17 Liberty Center projects since her eighth grade year.
“I have played a witch before and I love playing over-dramatic villains.”
Minks played “Bertie” in “Witches United 2” at The Liberty Center.
“I love being evil and dramatic,” said Minks.
Her favorite scene of the play is when Dorothy arrives in Munchkinland.
“I love waving my hand and terrifying the kids,” she said.
“What I am most excited for everyone to see is the Jitterbug scene. It is punchy and energetic and just one of my favorite numbers.”
Trees include: Hayley Case, Serenity Culbertson, Eliana Jensen, KayLynn LuAllen, Serenity Miller, Alysia Yoder.
Poppikins include: Angela Cerecero, Jaylynn Collins, Violet Garrison, Faith Hartley, Aiden Hester, Addison Hill, Brooklyn Murdock, Anya Norton, Hailey Terry, Chloe Yoder.
Citizens of Oz include: Haylie Allen, Abegail Burnham, Arabella Chenault, Jordan Dove, Daisy Garrison, Ana Guevera, DaVeigha Holt, Alma Jensen, Chloie Jordan, Jasmin Myers, Maranda Myers, Jade Parmalee, Brooke Terry, Hazel Thompson, Olivia Williams, Ruby Wright, Aleanah Yoder.
Elijah Long, Hickory, Tinman, said, “Moving onto a bigger role (played a very minor role in ‘Once Upon a Mattress’) is a challenge. Having one of our leads get injured and having to accommodate that has not been easy.”
Having to balance practice with school and band has been difficult. Eli likes his solo and dance “If I only Had a Heart” the most.
He is excited for the audience to see the scene where the characters enter Oz.
“We are interacting with the citizens of Oz - lots of singing and dancing in that scene.”
Long likes the character because of his emotional journey.
“My character feels insecure about not having a heart even though he definitely has one, he is the most empathetic character,” said Long.
Winkies include: Christian Culbertson, Jayden Culbertson, Parker Gemes, Colton Kern, Wesley Jackson, J.C. Minks.
Gabriel Wassman, Zeke/ Lion, said the biggest challenge was getting cue lines memorized.
Wassman’s favorite scene: “Definitely the coronation - King of the Forest. I get to sing my song and I like the song.”
“We put a lot of time and effort into it and it's going to be fun. There are lots of funny scenes. This cast is very interactive with each other,” said Wassman.
He enjoyed the funny antics of rehearsal.
“Yesterday Eli’s axe broke when he was knocking on the ground.”
Wassman likes his character.
“He’s kind of goofy - not a character you take seriously.”
Flying Monkeys include: Henry Adler, Joe Katzenmeier, Jade Parmalee, and Mustang Salley.
Jitterbugs include: Angela Cerecero, Macey Heimsoth, Addison Hill, Makayla Lawrence, and Amelia Roberts.
Ayden Burdick, Hunk, Scarecrow, is recovering from an ACL tear and deals with the challenge of playing his role on crutches. His biggest challenge -was line memorization.
“My favorite scene is where I come in and sing ‘If I only had a brain’,” said Burdick.
“I have a lot of meaningful lines. I am the first-person Dorothy meets and get to be on stage from the beginning to the end.”
“I think we mesh really well. I have a lot of fun. We build off of each other,” said Burdick.
Crew members are Jack Barnard, Charlene Coseby, Amy Dotson, Izak Fraser, Ana Guevera, Kynnedi Hamilton, Joe Katzenmeier, Bailey Merriott, Sarah Sherlin, Bralynn Smith, Conner Short, Brooke Terry.
The story line for “The Wizard of Oz” is set in rural Kansas. Dorothy Gale lives on a farm owned by her Uncle Henry and Aunt Em. Dorothy's neighbor, Almira Gulch, who had been bitten by Dorothy's dog, Toto, obtains a sheriff's order authorizing her to seize Toto. Toto escapes and returns to Dorothy, who runs away to protect him. Professor Marvel, a charlatan fortune-teller, persuades Dorothy to go home because Aunt Em is heartbroken. She returns just as a tornado approaches the farm. Unable to get into the locked storm cellar, Dorothy takes cover in the farmhouse and is knocked unconscious as the tornado lifts the house and drops it intact onto an unknown land and that is where the action really takes off.
Dorothy awakens and is greeted by a good witch named Glinda, who floats down in a bubble and explains that Dorothy has landed in Munchkinland in the Land of Oz, and that the Munchkins are celebrating because the house landed on the Wicked Witch of the East. Her sister, the Wicked Witch of the West, suddenly appears. Before she can seize her deceased sister's ruby slippers, Glinda magically transports them onto Dorothy's feet and tells her to keep them on. Because the Wicked Witch has no power in Munchkinland, she leaves, but swears vengeance upon Dorothy and Toto. Glinda tells Dorothy to follow the yellow brick road to the Emerald City, the home of the Wizard of Oz, as he might know how to help her return home as the bubble makes her vanish and float away.
Along the way, Dorothy meets the Scarecrow, who wants a brain; the Tin Man, who wants a heart; and the Cowardly Lion, who wants courage.
Make plans to attend “The Wizard of Oz” and support the fine arts at Warsaw High School. Curtain time for November 2 is 7:30 PM and 3:00 PM for November 3. Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for students.
