Schools

Iconic 'Wizard of Oz' Opens Friday

Spotlight Productions gives Rockwood students a chance to perform and learn more about theater during the summer.

It's hard to find someone who hasn't heard of The Wizard of Oz, which is what makes it a hard show to put on. The director and cast have to find a way to tell a well-known story in a way that keeps the audience entertained.

"This show is so iconic. As a director, I was hesitant to do this show because there isn't much creatively that can be done outside of what the audience expects," director Sherry Liliensiek-Gehrs said in an email. "I didn't think this show was going to be a directing challenge because it pretty much has a format laid out already from the famous movie version." 

So why did Spotlight Productions choose the show? Well, to put it simply, the community theater program that has run summer camps in conjunction with the Rockwood School District has slim pickings when it comes to kid-friendly shows.

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"There aren't that many musicals that interest actors and the audience," Liliensiek-Gehrs said. The Wizard of Oz fit the bill, though—it had enough parts to involve many younger actors, and its popularity helps sell tickets.

Liliensiek-Gehrs found ways to put a spin on the classic. The jitterbug scene, which isn't even in the movie, is probably her favorite scene, she said. In it, Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Cowardy Lion, and the Scarecrow encounter spooks in a haunted forest. The jitterbugs' costumes glow in the dark and Liliensiek-Gehrs describes it as one of the "most visually stunning scenes of the whole show."

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About 56 students are involved in the show and Fenton's Bryce Miller, 11, is cast in the title role of Oz. Bryce gave his secret to portraying the Wizard.

"I act like my grandpa, like I'm old and I know everything—that's basically like my every day life," he said.

For scenes with the Wizard, the created recreated the floating head with wood cutouts. Bryce says of his character:

"He's a humbug, a curmudgeon. They use those words in the show to describe him because I've tricked them," Bryce said "They think I'm a giant floating head, but I'm just a small old man."

Other local players in the production are Gianni Carcagno, who plays an Ozian, Madeline Hewgley and Kayleigh Mehtens, who play Munchkins, and James Shadow, who has the role of Uncle Henry. All are from Fenton.

Most of the cast are Rockwood students, but anyone can audition for the Spotlight Productions program. Many of the lead characters heard about the program from their teachers or have performed in Spotlight Productions shows before. 

The summer program is about more than putting on a play. Each week, actors participate in workshops that teach character development, stage combat, improvisation skills and more. 

For example, in the character-development workshop, actors were asked to practice how they think their character would walk, says Madison Hadler, who plays the Tin Man. Hadler, a Wildwood resident, said everyone was asked to walk like the Scarecrow or the Tin Man.

"Everyone feeds off of each other, then," said Chase Shelton, who plays the Scarecrow. The 15-year-old Chesterfield resident, who estimates he's been in more than 30 shows, said that sets Spotlight Productions apart. Other community theater programs, he said, require about three rehearsals a week and a focus solely on the play.

"Spotlight is about learning how theater works, not just being in a show," Liliensiek-Gehrs said. "The ability level ranges from novice to kids who have been in shows since they were toddlers, so it's important to make sure they all get an equal experience."

For the actors, being in a show is only half the fun. Several said the best part was meeting new people from different schools and forging new friendships. 

"It's really great that you can make new friends easily," said Ballwin resident Sarah Young, who plays Glinda the Good Witch. "Everyone is nice; you can do whatever you want to, and people accept you because it's theater." 

One other thing also makes the summer theater program fun. 

"It's less stressful, because we don't have homework, and we don't have to study," Young said.

The Wizard of Oz opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the theater at . Tickets at the door are $12 for children 12 and under and $17 for adults.

Additional show dates and times:
July 16 and July 22 and 23 at 7:30 p.m.
July 16, 17, 23 & 24 @ 2:00 p.m.


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