On Jan. 25-27, Theater presented The Wizard of Oz. A perfect homage to the classic, the musical was fun and full of color. With innovative set design and vibrant costumes as well as witty dialogue, the musical was well worth the trip.
Special effects such as a dry ice tornado made the show one of a kind. The cast was entertaining, and the story was well told, with a perfect nod to the original 1939 classic movie, The Wizard of Oz.
Musical numbers such as the “Jitterbug” kept the audience entertained and fans rooting for the main characters. The plot gave background to each character that the movie lacks, making them overall well rounded. The acting was engaging for the viewers and the costumes gave homage to the originals.
It was interesting to see the magic in the story without the special effects of moviemaking such as the ruby red slippers magically appearing on Dorothy’s feet as the rightful owner. Another example was Dorothy’s vision inside of the tornado. Glenda the good witch also had a special entrance with large amounts of bubbles surrounding her as she arrived and exited.
The musical numbers were well executed from catchy classics such as “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” to lesser-known new songs such as those by the apple trees. The audience was engaged and laughing the whole time.
During the intermission, there were even activities to keep the audience engaged. They gave out plastic hearts filled with candies or a special prize, and the winner received a specially curated gift basket. It was a fun and innovative fundraiser for the Theater program.
Overall, the story was well told and well executed with smooth transitions, comedic relief and colorful acting. It was clear the production was made with love from the cast and families in the audience, joined by an emotional encore and standing ovation from the crowd. As members of the band and orchestra joined in to provide the music, it was clear that this was truly a community effort. The musical was a great interpretation of the classic with a unique and well told twist.
