As the curtain rises on Apr. 3 through Apr. 6, the Patriot Players will transform the auditorium into the wonderful world of Oz. The approximately two-hour long performance will run Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights as well as matinees on Saturday and Sunday.
Auditions took place on Jan. 14 through Jan. 17 and entailed memorizing a dance, learning part of a song from “The Wizard of Oz” and performing a monologue from the musical. “Singing is definitely a big thing, if you can’t sing the part, it’s hard to play the part. Then, usually what we do is [select the] best person for the role, regardless of seniority or how you look,” theater director Dr. Julian Lazarus said.
Junior Trixie Verrija was excited when she discovered she had been cast as her “dream role” of Glinda since she had been preparing for auditions since November. “I was really nervous at my auditions because it was my first audition for a musical and it is pretty stressful because this is my first time singing in front of people,” Verrija said.
Unlike recent Patriot Player productions, students will be wire-flying to bring this classic story to new heights. In addition to this, senior Anna Lizondo, playing Dorothy, said she is excited to, “do the classic skip line, which is Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Lion when they are going down the Yellow Brick Road.”
The school’s production of “The Wizard of Oz” will feature elementary school students as Munchkins. Cast members Lizondo and Verrija said it has been enjoyable to work with them because of their good listening skills, eagerness and effort. “It’s kind of nice to be the people that they look up to because I remember seeing, when I was an elementary schooler, the Wootton musical productions. And I thought, they are so cool that they are singing and dancing and putting on a production, and now I get to be that person they look at,” Lizondo said.
The “Wicked” movie premiering in November contributed to Lazarus deciding on “The Wizard of Oz” as the musical of the year. “I was definitely leading into that, but also I wanted a family friendly show that all of our community can come and see. Plus, I want to fly,” Lazarus said.
Lizondo and Verrija said that coordinating the moving parts, props, costumes, costume changes, cast members and scenes with everyone on stage, such as the Munchkin scene, is the most difficult part of the process. However, for Lizondo, wearing Dorothy’s iconic ruby red slippers prove to be their own challenge. “I have been trying to wear them to every single rehearsal and get used to being in them. Coach K has created some great choreography but it’s really fast and some of it is very hard so the heels are definitely something to get used to,” Lizondo said
Between performing on stage, working through the intricacies of the production off stage, and providing the soundtrack to the musical in the pit, 160 kids are participating in “The Wizard of Oz.” Students should come support the theater department and see their peers hard work come to life. “Supporting the arts is so important, it keeps the theater program going and that’s a huge reason our students, staff, and community should come see it,” Lizondo said.
