In 1939 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) released a film adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The movie, starring Judy Garland as Dorothy, quickly became an American classic.
Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 8 and 9, the small Kansas Farm, Munchkin Land, Emerald City, and The Land of Oz come to life on the stage in the Performing Arts Center as Solon High School presents The Wizard of Oz.
“It’s a show we’ve had on our short list for a while,” said Director Samantha Russell. “But also with gauging interest from the kids on what shows they would want to do, its come up for the last few years in a row.”
Also, she said, with the popularity of the contemporary movie, Wicked, and Wicked Part 2, coming out two weeks after the show, the timing would be “really cool.”
“We have such a wide range of talent that fits all of the different parts,” Russell said. “We have a lot of the actors, and we have good vocalists. Wizard of Oz has a lot more acting scenes than big musical scenes but still offers multiple scenes that have dancing and singing. It’s a good mix for where the kids are at and its just a fun show.”
Madisen Kleppe, a senior, stars as Dorothy.
She’s spent more than a few years under the stage lights going back to middle school, community theatre (City Circle Theatre Company, Coralville) and three years on the high school stage.
Kleppe, and her castmates cordially invite you to come and see The Wizard.
“It’s just so fun. I don’t why you wouldn’t want to come. It gives you something to do, its fun to watch, there’s so many people in it, and it’s a great community. You wouldn’t not have fun if you went, so why not go?”
Cast
Dorothy Gale – Madisen Kleppe
Hunk/Scarecrow – Parker Beck
Hickory/Tinman – Deacon Waddell
Zeke/Cowardly Lion – John Rasmussen
Uncle Henry – Zander Bishop
Aunt Em – Landree Buch
Glinda – Piper Stahle
Miss Amira Gulch – Allison Hedge
Wicked Witch of the West – Ashley Farnsworth
Professor Marvel – Toby Kleinsmith
Toto – Maysie Russell
Emerald City Guard – Zander Bishop
The Wizard of Oz – Toby Kleinsmith
Lullaby League/Crows – Chloe Benjamin, Landree Buch, and Allison Hedge
Apple Trees/Munchkin – Evie Gasser, Merrick Gravert, and Madyn Hahn
Braggart – Merrick Gravert
Mayor/Winkie General – Evann Freerks
Munchkin Coroner – Liv Nelson
Munchkin Barrister – Holly Whitehead
The Lollipop Guild – Silas Billerbeck, Lucan Botsford, Kolson Highly, and Tommy Miller
Nikko – Lucan Botsford
Lead Jitterbug – Holly Whitehead
Chorus
Abigail Allen, Stella Beck, Chloe Benjamin, Silas Billerbeck, Annie Bovenmeyer, Lucan Botsford, Landree Buch, Aly Bulechek, Lenora Cornally, Madilyn Dunbar, Leah Ellison, Stella Facinelli, Evann Freerks, Peyton Galloway, Evie Gasser, Liam Gilroy, Merrick Gravert, Madyn Hahn, Raelynn Hammer, Allison Hedge, Toby Kleinsmith, Tenley Levin, Liv Nelson, Peyton Netolicky, Zoee Netolicky, Evelyn Osgood, Scarlet Terzano-Borovic, and Holly Whitehead
Minis (SIS/SMS students)
Jude Aldrich, Reuben Allgood, Ava Anderson, Lillah Botsford, Kleo Burkum, Harper Carney, Daphne Clifford, Dottie Deeney, Nadia Ellickson, Frankie Hamilton, Logan Hendrickson, Kolson Highly, Olivia Letarte, Hannah Matlock, Leah Matlock, Kaiah Meyer, Tommy Miller, Ellyn Mroz, Calvin Nelson, Josie Oestreich, Emma Olsem, Livian Richardson, Emma Sabers, Lexi Schorer, Riley Sharp, Libby Stahle, Brooklyn Tomas, Robert Walker, and Blair Wicker
Showtimes and ticket information
Tickets are available at https://sc4a.ludus.com/index.php
Saturday, Nov. 8 – 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 8 – 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 9 – 2:00 p.m.
