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The smoke and mirrors (and paint and fabric) of Oz
(by Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor - January 28, 2010)
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 Messenger photo by Kristy Zurbrick
Scott Hannah plays the Tin Man to Rhianna Wyss’ Dorothy in Southeastern High School’s upcoming production of “The Wizard of Oz.”
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Wizard of Oz Character Breakfast
The FCCLA chapter and drama department at Southeastern High School in South Charleston are sponsoring a “Wizard of Oz” Character Breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 20 in the high school cafeteria. Enjoy Emerald City pancakes and sausage, and pose for a photo with some of the characters who will appear in the high school’s musical production March 5-7.
Tickets to the breakfast are $5 and will be available starting Feb. 1. Proceeds will go to the Central Ohio Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Dayton Children’s Hospital as part of the Ohio FCCLA Cancer Campaign. Contact FCCLA members or advisor Kathy McGrath at (937) 462-8308, ext. 213, to purchase tickets.
Tickets to the Show
Southeastern’s production of the “Wizard of Oz” will include three performances: 7 p.m. on March 5, 7 p.m. on March 6, and 3 p.m. on March 7. Admission is $6 for adults and $4 for students and senior citizens. Reserved seating tickets can be purchased at the Character Breakfast on Feb. 20. For all other ticket questions, call the high school at (937) 462-8308.
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It takes courage, heart and brains to put on a major musical production. Just ask the directors of Southeastern High School’s upcoming production of “The Wizard of Oz.”
“This is a very technically demanding play—the set changes, the costumes, the make-up,” said Amber Svendsen who co-directs the show with Dennis Giotta, Kathy McGrath and Laura Madden.
“The make-up aspect alone is challenging, particularly the Wicked Witch, who first appears on stage as Miss Gulch, and one-and-a-half scenes later is back on as the witch in full green make-up.”
Laura Madden’s art classes are tackling the show’s color transition by painting all of the props and backdrops for the Kansas scenes in black, white and shades of gray and everything for Munchkinland in bright technicolor.
Color also comes into play with the costumes, as does a bit of special effects.
“For the actors in the poppy field scene, my clothing and textiles class is making red capes that when turned inside out are white to represent the snow in the scene,” McGrath said.
Other students, including those in Svendsen’s English classes, are figuring out fun props for the tornado scenes and how to build the Wizard’s hot air balloon. Special effects also will include a bubble machine for Glinda the Good Witch, smoke for the Wicked Witch, and a projection screen for the wizard’s floating head.
“We have talent all the way around,” said Svendsen, referring to the cast and the crew.
As it turns out, each class is represented by the four leading characters. Senior Rhianna Wyss plays Dorothy, junior Alex Xayathone is the Lion, sophomore Max Wildman plays the Scarecrow, and freshman Scott Hannah is the Tin Man. Overall, the cast is comprised of about 50 students.
“We always have good participation in our plays,” Svendsen said. “We haven’t done a fantasy type play in a while. It’s going to stretch the students’ acting abilities.”
Southeastern’s trip over the rainbow coincides with the 70th anniversary of the movie release that starred Judy Garland. This milestone played into the directors’ decision to go with “The Wizard of Oz” for 2010, as did the success of last year’s well-known show.
“We had a good response from ‘Grease’ last year with three soldout shows,” Svendsen said. “The ‘Wizard of Oz’ seemed like a fun show we could get a lot of students involved in and community support for. We’re hoping for more soldout shows.”
Southeastern’s production of the “Wizard of Oz” will include three performances: 7 p.m. on March 5, 7 p.m. on March 6, and 3 p.m. on March 7. Admission is $6 for adults and $4 for students and senior citizens.
Cast of Southeastern's "Wizard of Oz
Kansas, Witches, Wizard
Dorothy – Rhianna Wyss
Aunt Em – Amber Hanson
Uncle Henry – Zach Hatfield
Hickory – Burke Stucky
Hunk – Tyler Gregory
Zeke – Dylan Bowen
Miss Gultch/Wicked Witch – Kelly Hale
Professor Marvel/Wizard of Oz – Josh Rotroff
Dorothy’s Friends, Etc.
Scarecrow – Max Wildman
Tin Man – Scott Hannah
Lion – Alex Xayathone
Crows—Carrie Litteral, Ashley Stewart and Julie Hale
Trees—Ashley Coleman, Megan Bowen and Taylor Milan
Poppies/Jitterbugs – Brooke Crum, Betsy Dewine, Morgan Hazlett, Claire Heister, Shelby Jaynes, Alex Knisley, Sara McKay, Chelsea Sweeney
Munchkinland
Glinda – Elizabeth Finchum
Munchkin (braggart) – Kirsti Carver
Munchkin School Teacher 1 – Erin Ruby
Munchkin School Teacher 2 – Claire Heister
Mayor of Munchkins – Michael Smith
Barrister – Shawn Jackson
Munchkin Councilwoman 1 – Haley Banion
Munchkin Councilwoman 2 – Brenda Tovar
Coroner – Benedikt Arenz
Lullabye League— Katie Kimley, Brie Watson, Carrie Miller and Heidi Rotroff
Lollipop Guild—Burke Stucky, Landon Cason and Tyler Gregory
Emerald City
Out of the Woods Ensemble – Kirsti Carver, Claire Heister, Katie Kimley, Carrie Miller, Patience Moore, Heidi Rotroff, Erin Ruby, Brie Watson
Guard at the Gate – Dylan Bowen
Beauticians – Kirsti Carver, Carrie Litteral, Sarah Spitzer
Polishers – Benedikt Arenz, Michael Smith, Burke Stucky
Manicurists – Patience Moore, Erin Ruby, Sarah Russell
Munchkins and Ozians - Ashley Biddle, Kelsea Gram, Lexi Harbour, Morgan Reeb, Sarah Spitzer, Brenda Tovar, Kimberly Truong, Morgan Weaver, Brooke Wise
Witch’s Castle
General of the Winkies – Shawn Jackson
Winkies—Benedikt Arenz, Landon Cason, Katie Kimley, Sarah McKay, Ashley Stewart and Julie Hale
Nikko, Captain of Flying Monkeys – Michael Smith
Flying Monkeys—Brie Watson, Ashley Coleman, Shelby Jaynes, Brenda Tovar, Kim Truong, Sarah Spitzer, Claire Heister
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