The junior drama club, which is the largest club in the Kamsack Comprehensive Institute, has taken on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Under the direction of Bethany Brade, the school’s art teacher who is also a drama instructor, the play will be staged at the Kamsack Playhouse on April 5 and 7.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Michele L. Vacca is based on the L. Frank Baum story, Brade said last week.
A classic tale, it has comedic moments, Brade said. “We’re doing an expanded version.”
“Although this version of the story is not a musical, we hoping to have some orchestration to accompany the story,” she said, adding that plans are to have modern sets which will include video projection.
Staff members working with Brade include Joanne Schwartz, the co-director, and Barbara Tanner and Tracey Fedorchuk, who will be looking after costumes and sets.
There will be a lot of costumes that will be created by Tanner, the home economics teacher who is an accomplished seamstress, she said. “We’re in for a treat.
“Although casting was completed in December, we just recently distributed the scripts,” she said, adding that it appears that there is developing “great chemistry” between key members of the cast.
“Everyone seems to be keen and excited,” she said.
The cast has about 30 students, many of which are characters such as the Munchkins and witches’ apprentices, she said.
Among the principle roles are: Dorothy, who will be portrayed by Leah Schwartz; the Lion, Talon Severight; the Tin Man, Makayla Romaniuk; the Scarecrow, Jordyn Thomas; the Wicked Witch, Seraphim Strauss, and Ilyana Carpenter-Bloudoff, the Wizard.
It will take about 90 minutes to tell the story, which is in two acts, Brade said.
A clever, entertaining and fast-paced dramatization, it is based upon the timeless and exciting classic adventure story of young Dorothy who finds herself lost in the strange and magical Land of Oz, says an Internet account of the play. The expanded version has many principal speaking roles and offers a number of options to include additional performers in non-speaking roles.
In the story, young Dorothy Gale finds herself whisked away to the magical Land of Oz by a Kansas cyclone. How will she ever find her way home? Wearing the magic ruby slippers, and under the kindly protection of the Good Witch of the North, Dorothy sets out to ask the Wonderful Wizard for advice, said the account. On the way, she finds both adventure and friends; the Cowardly Lion who thinks he needs courage, the Scarecrow who thinks he needs brains, and the sentimental Tin Woodsman who desperately yearns for a warm heart.
During her journey Dorothy also encounters a few obstacles, one of which is the dreaded Wicked Witch of the West! The plot thickens when Dorothy and her three friends agree to help the Wizard foil the Witch of the West in exchange for brains, courage, a new heart, and a trip home to Kansas.
“After another long journey and further adventures Dorothy and her friends boldly and bravely succeed in their mission by drawing upon their own resources. In doing so they triumphantly find the courage, the brains, the heart and the home for which they have been searching.”
