“Wizard of Oz” to take the NRHEG stage

The Tin Woodman, the Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow express excitement at the way things are developing on the NRHEG stage.

Choir director Krista Reeder has brought together a cast of actors with varying levels of experience in vocal performance to present “The Wizard of Oz” three times: at 3 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, and at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 18. Students in grades 5 through 12 will be performing.

The production has a tight schedule, with only a little over a month from auditions to performance–made tighter by a few days’ delay in the delivery of the scripts due to a shipping error.

“I knew I was Dorothy,” comments Sophia Williams. “But I couldn’t start learning my lines or practicing until the scripts arrived.”

Damazion Porter, cast as the Tin Woodman, says the short time frame is not a cause for concern. “We have a good cast,” he comments. “Everyone is taking it seriously and doing what they need to.

“It’s going to be a great play.” As for his own role, Porter says he’s enjoying some of the personality traits he gets to portray. “I don’t have a heart,” he comments. “So I get to defend other characters.”

As the Scarecrow, Olivia Johnson says she is comfortable with her character’s song, “If I Only Had a Brain” because she has been in choir “basically since kindergarten.” The touches of clumsiness expected of her character make for some good moments of humor, she adds.

Maddie Schlaak, who plays the Wicked Witch, jokes that she was “typecast” for the role. She says she is having fun finding costume pieces which provide the right look for her character, and has been working on the “cackle” and “scratchy voice” she will need on stage.

In the meantime, “During practices, I know I spend a lot of time laughing backstage,” she comments. “All of us are having fun with the roles and adding some special touches.”

Among those, cast members explain, are some of the interesting phrases that are part of “Gen Beta” slang, including , Harbor Cromwell mentions, the word “skibidee.”

Cromwell, who plays Uncle Henry in the “real world” portion of the story and a guard in the “dream” part, says he will be using the word as he tells the angry Almira Gulch to get off his property and leave Dorothy and Toto alone.

Cromwell, who admits his interests turn more toward sports and competition than plays, says he was “dragged along” to auditions by some friends and decided he might as well try out. Though he’s never been in choir, he says he’s enjoying developing the southern accent needed for his character, and preparing for the vocal number he will be part of in the “dream” sequence of the story.

Gabrielle Schlaak has been cast as Aunt Em, and so is also working to develop a southern accent. She says being in the play brings a piece of family lore “full circle,” since her mother Kim Schlaak was part of an NRHEG production of “Wizard of Oz” in 1994. “She told me I have to do it,” says Gabrielle lightheartedly. She says she’s glad her character is “low key” compared to many of the others, with no need for an extraordinary costume or makeup.

Cast members explain that, for the most part, “real world” characters change over to individuals with corresponding traits in the “dream” world after the tornado. In a typical production of the play, “Aunt Em” would become “Glinda,” the good witch who helps Dorothy on her journey in Oz. 

Caralee Koopal, who plays the troublesome Almira Gulch, would then also be the Wicked Witch–except that, in this production, parts were divided up in some cases so more actors could be involved. So, while Koopal is enjoying the individualized touches she will be adding to Almira Gulch, she is not particularly disappointed she will not also be the witch.

“I like working behind the scenes,” she comments, sharing that she plans to help with makeup and preparing sets for the play.

Wyatt Larson has been cast as “Professor Marvel” and the Wizard. He comments he believes fellow students and community members will greatly enjoy the play. And while it’s fun to have the grandiose role of “The Wizard Himself,” the character comes with the challenge of memorizing “some long rants,” which, because they continue without any interaction with other characters, are a challenge to memorize.

Christian Huntington, cast as the Cowardly Lion, agrees the play itself is an excellent choice and the special touches actors are adding will make the production even more enjoyable.

“Everyone should come,” says Huntington. “They’ll be glad they did.”