Students bring "The Wizard of Oz" musical to the stage

Mar. 10—LENOIR — Nearly 100 Caldwell County high school, middle school, and elementary school students are excitedly preparing and rehearsing for their performance of the musical "The Wizard of Oz" in April.

The show will take place at the J.E. Broyhill Civic Center (1913 Hickory Blvd., Lenoir) on Thursday, April 27 and Friday, April 28 at 7 p.m., and Saturday, April 29 and Sunday, April 30 at 2 p.m.

The show will actually have two casts performing, a "Ruby" cast and an "Emerald" cast to keep in theme. The Ruby cast will perform Thursday and Saturday, April 27 and 29.

The Emerald cast will perform Friday and Sunday, April 28 and April 30.

"The concept is they're not an A or a B cast," said Beth Woodard, artistic director and theater teacher at South Caldwell High School. "It's not lead and understudy. They are all those characters."

Woodard said she wanted to have the two casts in order to give as many students as possible the chance to perform in a lead role. Moreover, much like in the motion picture adaptation from 1939, the cast members portraying the Lion, Scarecrow, and Tinman will also play the farm hands and friends at Dorothy's home in Kansas, named Zeke, Hunk, and Hickory in the play, on the alternate nights when they're not in the lead.

"With this particular script, it worked out that we could do it that way," said Woodard. "When they're not the Tinman, Scarecrow, or Lion characters, they can also sing and help with all these songs that they're learning, anyway."

Elementary and middle school students will sing and dance as the Munchkins from Munchkinland.

The script has been adapted by the Royal Shakespeare Company and is based on the motion picture rather than the original book by L. Frank Baum.

Several of the students in this large-scale musical production have been heavily involved in theater for many years.

Romy Bentley, a freshman at South Caldwell High School, will play Dorothy Gale in the Ruby cast.

"It's my first time being in a lead role, so I'm really looking forward to that," she said. "I'm excited to wear the ruby slippers."

Emma Griffin, a junior at South Caldwell High School, will play both the Cowardly Lion and Zeke as part of the Emerald cast.

"I think some of the lines that the Lion has are a really good part of the show," Griffin said.

Chadwick Shores, a senior at West Caldwell High School, will play both the Scarecrow and Hunk as part of the Ruby cast.

"I'm in chorus," he said, "so I took this as a great opportunity to sing and dance."

Brayden Frasure is a seventh grader at Granite Falls Middle School. He will portray the Tinman in the Ruby cast.

"People can look forward to a great show. Who doesn't like the 'Wizard of Oz?' " he said. "It's going to be in more color than it ever was with this cast."

Dorothy's canine companion, Toto, will even make an appearance, played by an adorable Pomeranian named Hamilton.

Students will be also be working as production technicians backstage, building and moving props and sets, running lights and sound, playing in the live accompaniment band, and more.

This expansive production would not be possible without generous support from the local community. Caldwell County schools have hosted a number of Spirit Night fundraisers with two more planned for March and early April.

On Tuesday, March 28, the community is invited to participate in Spirit Night at Dairi-O located at 102 Harper Ave, Lenoir from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. On Thursday, April 13, Village Inn (1234 Morganton Blvd SW, Lenoir) will host a fundraiser event from 5 to 8 p.m.

Proceeds will provide support for the incredible work that students and community members have done to deliver a professional quality show.

"For this production, we are building the witch's castle, the Emerald City gates, and several other set pieces," said Woodard. "We're also renting professional backdrops for several of the scenes ... Costumes need to be rented, made or borrowed ... But the thing that's going to take the biggest chunk of change is, we are flying. The Wicked Witch will fly, Glinda will fly, the flying monkeys will fly, and the Wizard will fly in his balloon."

"These guys are going to make the magic happen with their characters, and they're already doing a fabulous job bringing it to life," she added. "Their singing, dancing and acting is just top-notch."

Tickets for "The Wizard of Oz" will go on sale Monday, April 3 and can be purchased online at www.broyhillcenter.com.

The community is invited to experience the fantastic world of Oz live in person.

"I feel like it's a good way to support your community and local theaters around here," said Bentley. "I know there's a lot of issues with funding for the arts, especially in places like Caldwell County. I feel like this is a good experience to get out there and show that we're working hard for the things we love and that we deserve attention for it."