A very condensed version of “The Wizard of Oz” came to the stage in the Elgin school gymnasium on Saturday, December 14. The Missoula Children’s Theatre helped stage the production, which is one of its repertoire of shows specially written for children’s performance. Traveling thespians from Missoula, Montana (usually a director and actor) drive up to a school on Monday with a small van filled with a stage set, costumes, props, makeup and basic lighting. They hold student auditions, rehearse like mad, and by Saturday, they put on a show.
The stage set for “The Wizard of Oz” includes a large rainbow in the background, a small house that disappears in a tornado, and when it comes time for the travelers to speak to the great and powerful Oz, a curtain in front of the rainbow parts to reveal a very large set of red reflecting eyes and red lips that move like a marionette when the wizard’s booming voice is heard.
The hour-long show was put together under the direction of Stephanie Brown of the Missoula Children’s Theatre. Assistant directors were Elena Graham and Megan Miller. Excellent music and sound effects were an integral part of the play.
Anna Lewing of the Missoula Children’s Theatre played both the scarecrow and Auntie Em. As the only adult in the show she did an excellent job of pulling the production together. Student performers ranged in age from first to eighth graders.
Kylie Kueneman as Dorothy, Alexandria Scheid as the tin man, Clay Kahla as the lion, and Chesed Chap as a wonderful Toto rounded out the lead roles.
In addition, there were ten Magicians, twelve Munchins, eight Winkies, and nine fierce Flowers who provided plenty of choreographed stage action.
Additional actors included Aspern Miller as the professor/wizard, Parker Bostock as the green guard, MacKenzie Donaldson as the wicked witch, Tana Elias as Glinda, Tavania Padilla as mayor munchin, and Sophia Jordan as farmer munchin.
This version of the classic Frank Baum tale was written and conceived for the Missoula Childen’s Theater by Jim Caron, with music and lyrics by Michael McGill, Bob Hubley and David Simmons.
The Missoula Children’s Theatre works with 65,000 children a year in 50 states and 17 countries around the world.
A supportive audience of families and friends ranging in age from babies to grandparents attended the Saturday evening performance.
