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This weekend, Washington County Theatre (WCT) will present “The Wizard of Oz,” the tale of young Dorothy Gale’s eventful journey to the Emerald City, in its biggest production to date.
Shows are set for August 23 and 24 at 7:30 p.m. and August 24 and 25 at 2:30 p.m. at West Washington High School’s auditorium.
Director Daniel Main said that this production has “an incredibly strong cast” and that many of the adults in the show learned about acting as children in WCT’s Pied Piper Productions. “All of our main cast are very experienced and came up through children’s theatre. We’ve got the cream of the crop here, and I’m really proud of them,” said Main.
Community theatre brings together people who love telling stories on the stage, and cast members say “The Wizard of Oz” is a great show to be a part of. Isabelle Davis, 10, who plays a Munchkin, said the stage adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s book is fun to perform. “There are different things about it that make it unique. There are parts when you think, ‘Oh, no! The bad side’s going to win,’ and then you think, ‘No, the good side’s going to win,’ and it makes everyone get all excited about it,” she explained.
Isabelle’s mother, Amanda Davis, said she herself grew up performing in school productions and appreciates the skills her daughter is able to learn through being onstage. “I think it’s really good for self-confidence and self-esteem, for them to put themselves out there. She’s not as afraid to go do something that’s scary the first time. She’s willing to try things and have fun,” said Davis.
Main agreed that community theatre provides a way to build important skills and form new relationships “for children all the way up to adults,” adding, “in fact, a lot of people I’ve met over the years were individuals brand new to town. They just moved here, and they were looking for a way to get involved in the community and meet people, and this is how they do it and build their main block of friends.”
Mark Carter heads the cast as the Wizard. Dorothy is played by Abbigail Ferguson, who will be a senior this school year at West Washington High School. Straton Thomas plays the Scarecrow, and Ryland Sparkman portrays the Tin Man. The Cowardly Lion is played by Jacob Dufour. Kayla Seybold and Rosie Morehous play the Wicked Witch; McKenna Hedrick and Rachel Dufour play Glinda. Lacey Sample and Lydia Casey portray Auntie Em, and Michael Murphy plays Uncle Henry.
The Munchkins in the show are Emily Bambusch, Mia Bambusch, Brylynn Blair, Ella Blake, Ogie Bundy, Ameliah Camp, Payton, Cole, Sesley Cole, Emrie Collier, Maggie Corp, Blair Dowling, Jax Deckard, Gracie Dunaway, Nkemlee Ebogu, Evalynne Grissom, Catie Haag, Ava Jetter, Luke Lewandowski, Macie Lewandowski, Dawson McKinley, Gracie Morehous, Scarlett Morgan, Brigid Nance, Aubrey Nokes, Barrett Nunley, and Molly Nunley.
Also portraying Munchkins are Isabella Padilla, Emmy Russell, Grayson Russell, Jaxon Russell, Madilyn Russell, Piper Sample, Dahlia Scifres, Etta Scifres, Charlotte Seeley, Kiki Snelling, Adaleah Stevens, Jacobi Stockton, Sorin Strickland, Katie Stroud, Asher Sutherland, Eleanor Sutherland, Jaxtin Tankersly, Madeleine Trauth, Grant Waters, and Eli Wynn.
The Citizens of Oz are Kinlee Asher, Brylee Boso, Phoebe Ferguson, Avey Marshall, Rives Marshall, Callie Robbins, Estin Roop, Wil Sears, Grace Snyder, Langston Sparkman, Julie Stroud, and Alex Wilde. Rebecca McKinley portrays Oz Doorman and Citizen, and Chelsey Murphy will play Guard and Oz Citizen.
Aislynn Compton, Brooks Deaton, Juneau Main, Daniel Miner, Katie Perkins, and Elle Strother will portray Flying Monkeys and Oz Citizens. Avan Ewing, Amelia Hendricks, Hannah Ingram, Evelyn Loughmiller, Owen Stephenson, and Miranda Smith will play Winkies and Citizens of Oz. Finally, Alex Blake, Kara Blake, and Kayla Troutman will portray Haunted Trees and Citizens of Oz.
Charity Main is the Assistant Director. L. Frank Baum’s book was adapted for the stage by Frank Gabrielson, with music and lyrics of the MGM motion picture score by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg. Background music for the production is by Herbert Stothart. WCT is presenting the Muny version of the story by special arrangement with Concord Publishing and Tams-Witmark. All authorized performance materials are also provided by Concord Publishing and Tams-Witmark.
Tickets are $14 (adults) and $12 (students and seniors 65 and older). Those wishing to attend are asked to reserve their seats by texting the date and time of the desired show, as well as the needed number of tickets, to Charity Main at 812-620-3701. Payment will be collected at the door, which will open a half-hour before each show. Audience members will use Door 17 to access the auditorium at West Washington High School in Campbellsburg.