The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Dorothy Gale from Kansas made an appearance at the NRHEG music department’s presentation of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” in the high school’s secondary auditorium. Three separate performances the weekend of May 16 and 17 featured lots of lights, effects, and, of course, music.

L. Frank Baum published the original, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” in 1900. It sold out immediately. There would also be a 1902 Broadway musical and a 1939 major motion picture. But for the NRHEG high schoolers, it was a chance to sharpen their acting skills and to get acquainted with an old classic. The play was directed by Krista M. Reeder; Solveig Sundblad was the acting coach.

The classic story begins on a farm in Kansas. Tension builds after Dorothy’s dog Toto supposedly bit an angry, vengeful neighbor named Almira Gulch, played by Caralee Koopal. Almira claims she will get a police order to have Toto taken away. Dorothy’s Aunt Em, played by Gaby Schlaak, and Uncle Henry, played by Harbor Cromwell, reluctantly consent to let Almira take the dog.  Dorothy, played by Sophia Williams, becomes distraught. When Toto escapes from Almira and returns to her, she decides she has to run away to keep from losing him forever. After being outsmarted by Professor Chester Marvel, played by Wyatt Larson, Dorothy returns home in the midst of a storm; her house is picked up by a twister and dropped into Oz.

As it drops into this strange new land, the house falls on and kills the Wicked Witch of the East. Her sister, the Wicked Witch of the West, played by Madeline Schlaak, vows revenge. Dorothy is informed only the Wizard of Oz can help her, but she must make a perilous journey to request his help. In her travels, she meets the Scarecrow, played by Olivia Johnson; the Tinman, played by Damazion Porter; and the Cowardly Lion, played by Christian Huntington-Cully. The foursome battle their way to the Wizard, played by Wyatt Larson, before finishing off the Wicked Witch in her twisted castle in front of her evil Monkey Generals, Kendel Klocek and Hailey Staska.

Krista Reeder expressed her gratitude to the nearly 100 student musicians, staff and volunteers, the administration, the custodial staff, the P.E. team and coaches, the Music Boosters, to Ashley, the parents of the ensemble members and stage crew, to Sue, Nikki and Deb, to Rielly, Kaitlyn, Olivia, Abbie, all parent volunteers, Mr. Schaefer, Mrs. Klocek and her family, Deke, Mason and Makenna.