‘We’re off to see the Wizard’

Click your heels three times as the Minneota students will be presenting the Wizard of Oz musical this week.
Evening performances will be held on Thursday, Nov. 17 and Saturday, Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m. A matinee performance on Sunday, Nov. 20 will be at 2 p.m.
This version of the Wizard of Oz similarly follows the 1939 classic that was based on the L. Frank Baum novel with a few differences are is the norm with any film-to-stage adaptions.
Aubree Cheadle, who has directed numerous plays and musicals here, is also directing this musical.
"Last year, after our musical wrapped up, the juniors (this year's seniors) approached me and requested this musical," Cheadle said. "There's a lot that goes on into choosing a musical so, while I always consider student requests, it isn't usually that simple."
After pondering the students' request, Cheadle realized this musical, which had not been presented here since the early 2000s, would fit the cast here well."I knew it would be popular with students and audiences alike," Cheadle said.
The Wizard of Oz is a difficult musical to present, though, because of extensive costuming.
"Aside from the lead characters, each of the chorus members has 4-5 costumes, so lining those all up was a big project," Cheadle said. "Luckily, we were able to rent the majority of the costumes from The Barn Theatre in Willmar. What we were missing we pieced together from what was in our prop room, as well as borrowing some from RTR (Russell-Tyler-Ruthton High School), who just performed this musical in the spring, and the Lake Benton Opera House."
Being able to cooperate and borrow from various sources is how small community theatres and schools are able to hold quality plays and musicals for performers to get involved in and families to enjoy.
"I'm so grateful for the gracious support we've gotten from local school and community theatre programs," noted Cheadle. "Being able to reach out and share costumes, props, etc. has been a great resource.
Several case members play more than one part in the production. Winifred Swedzinski will be playing the part of Dorothy, Sylvia Rabaey will play Aunt Em and Glinda the Good Witch, Bradyn Hopper is Uncle Henry and an Emerald City guard, Joe Voit is Zeke/Cowardly Lion, Dawson Dovre is Hickory/Tinman, Autumn Dovre is Hunk/Scarecrow, Gretta Buysse is Almira Gulch/Wicked Witch, and Noah Harms is Professor Marvel/Great Wizard.
In all, there are around 70 kids involved in the cast, including 30 in the regular cast and chorus in grades 7-12, 10 students working on the sets and stage crew, and 30 elementary students in grades 3-6 that will be playing Munchkins.
"I wasn't sure what to expect when opening parts up to elementary kids to play these Munchkin roles," Cheadle said. "But they far exceeded my expectations, both in number and in performance. They have been such a joy to work with and they really add to the show."
Cheadle feels the involvement by the younger kids could inspire some of them to continue to be involved in stage productions as they get into high school.
"It's always great to be able to include elementary kids in our shows where we can as it helps build our program," she said. "Hopefully, we're see a number of them audition again when they get into seventh grade and beyond."
Popular songs from the film adaption will be heard in this production such as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "We're Off to See the Wizard".
"Each of the lead characters - Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tinman and the Cowardly Lion sing their own songs, as well as solos in other songs by Glinda and the Emerald City guard," said Cheadle."