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MCHS set to host ‘The Wizard of Oz’

By Greg Williams 4 min read

LEWISTOWN -- Mifflin County High School Drama Club advisor Erin Campbell and the cast of "The Wizard of Oz" hope theater goers will follow the yellow brick road to the MCHS auditorium for their latest musical, which opens Friday, Feb. 23.

"Our production team wanted to choose shows that the community will recognize where they have seen the movie or read the book," Campbell explained.

"There is a lot of behind the scenes work that goes into a production with a cast of this size," she added.

The cast of "The Wizard of Oz" numbers 48, which includes 22 middle school students who are featured as the munchkins.

"We've involved our middle school students for quite a few years now," Campbell said. "Most haven't had an experience like a drama club before. They have had one rehearsal a week since the fall, so it's neat to watch them grow and come out of their shells. They've also connected with the older, veteran performers."

The talented cast of the "The Wizard of Oz" includes Katey Riden (Dorothy), Brennen Hancock (Scarecrow), Max Persing (Cowardly Lion), Giovanni Zannino (Tinman), Dakota Schulz (Wicked Witch), Anna Miller (Glinda, the Good Witch) and Amaris Fultz (Wizard).

"There's so much talent in the school. We try to choose shows that feature as many students as possible," she explained.

Campbell and an ensemble of other teachers held working auditions in late September. Since selecting the cast, they've been rehearsing and building sets so the curtain can go up in February.

Involving the younger actors also ensures a bright future for the drama club. "We're building a legacy here," Campbell said. "The middle school students will be in lead roles a few years from now."

The Drama Club Parent Boosters have also been busy fundraising to help cover production costs for costumes and sets.

The sets are being built by students from the stagecraft course, which is in its second year of being offered at the high school, under the director of technology instructor Kevin Reigle. "Students in that course are learning about set design and then building our set pieces. Afterwards, they can come and see their hard work come to life on stage."

Last year's production of "Shrek" certainly created a big buzz in the community and those involved with "The Wizard of Oz" are hoping for a repeat performance. Their recent Meet and Greet seemed to indicate that the community can't wait to see Dorothy and Co. travel to the Emerald City.

This year marks the 85th anniversary of the release of the original film, starring Judy Garland, flying into theaters and Dorothy meeting her new friends and trying to get home to Kansas with the help of the Wizard.

And while the production mostly follows the original script, Campbell warns the audience to expect a "couple of surprises they might not expect." That includes special effects and "things," not wanting to reveal too many secrets about the show.

They'd love to have a sellout on opening night. "Shrek came close," Campbell recalled. "We will sell tickets an hour before each show. But we encourage people to get them online, as they are selling fast!"

Choosing "The Wizard of Oz" was an effort by the whole production team, a process that started during the last school year, Campbell said. "The kids give us their feedback on what they'd like to see the following year. A lot goes into selecting a musical. We usually spend a lot of time whittling away at our list. This year was more unanimous."

They want to pick productions that the cast and the public want to see. Now, as they continue to prepare for "The Wizard of Oz," the countdown is truly on.

Campbell wished to acknowledge other members of the production team for their hard work and dedication: Chris and Jade Ruble, Allison Echard, Sonya Riden, Matthew Moore, Amy Graham, Ethan Kauffman, Tyson Eckley and Cassidy Reed. "Everyone's really pitched in," she said.

Showtimes are 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23 and Saturday, Feb. 24 and 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25. Tickets cost $10.

Tickets can be purchased at www.showtix4u.com/event-details/78201.

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