We're Off to See the Wizard
Watching the Wizard of Oz on TV was an annual event when I was growing up. If I remember correctly, it was always broadcast in the spring. I always thought it was meant to correspond with the Midwest's tornado season.
Visalia is now entering into tornado season, and I'm not just talking about the little twister that knocked over trees in the northwest part of town last weekend. “The Wizard of Oz” is coming to the LJ Williams Theater, courtesy of the talented students at El Diamante High School.
Cheryl Thomas, the El D teacher who's helping to put it all together as the producer of the show, reassured me that, “Yes, it is the Judy Garland version.”
“If they love the movie, they'll love the show,” she said.
I loved every minute of the Wizard of Oz, except maybe the flying monkeys. The lions and tigers and bears didn't bother me a bit, just those darn monkeys. I had more than one nightmare about those little beasties.
They were even scarier than the wicked witch herself. Of course, I've become a bit jaded by what I see in the mirror each morning. But at least I can be made presentable without the use of Compound W.
And that voice! Ooh! Who can forget, “I'll get you, my Pretty . . . and your little dog, too”? And the “Da ta da, ta dah dah, da ta da, ta dah” music that heralded her arrival.
Cheryl says that even that music will be the same. And she admitted, “It is the classic – a little scary in some parts. Just like the movie.”
And as for my nightmare nemeses . . . there will be monkeys, sometimes flying, sometimes bounding off of trampolines.
“We already had one flying monkey break his ankle as he flew off his trampoline,” Cheryl told me. He is still in the show, just not a flying monkey anymore.
ZFX, a company from Kentucky that specializes in theatrical “flying,” is coming in to harness up several monkeys, Glenda in her bubble, and the Wicked Witch on her broom and teach them how to fly.
In fact, Cheryl said the whole musical is chock full of special effects from exciting lighting to pyrotechnics, from the tornado to a real, live (read unpredictable) Toto.
That movie must have influenced me more than I realized. Our family's dog is the same breed as was Toto. Only our dog is blonde, so he would never be considered for the part, because the real Toto was black. And then the real Toto was also very bright, and well, our dog is . . . blonde. Of course, he gets that from me.
There certainly is a lot of talent in their cast. And experience.
At a school that only has two years of seniors under their belt, there have been more opportunities for the underclassmen to land the leads. Most of the principals have three or four musicals stuffed into their ruby slippers.
“It's exciting that they've had so much experience
on stage. We've seen them grow up with us,” Cheryl said.
Kate Bourne (Dorothy), Stan Carrizosa (the Tin Man), Angelo Soriano (the Cowardly
Lion), Jacqueline Krebsbach (the Wicked Witch) and Megan Fassel (Glenda, the
Good Witch) are all veteran performers on the El D stage. Cortland Trull (the
Scarecrow) is the only newcomer to a big role.
Theatergoers will even get the benefit of an award-winning directing team. John Sorber, the choral director, was named the Tulare Kings Counties Music Educator Association (TMEA) Choral Director of the year. Music director Mike Tackett was named TKMEA's Band Director of the year. And after a career that spanned elementary, middle school and high school positions and 35 years, Mrs. Thomas is retiring in June.
“This is my farewell performance,” said Thomas. But I have a feeling that, just like Glenda the Good Witch, she'll drop in whenever they need her most.
You can follow the yellow brick road to a great performance Wednesday, Feb. 20 through Saturday, the 23. There are evening performances at 7:30 p.m. and a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee. A mere $9 will transport you to the Land of Oz for the familiar scenes and tunes of the perennial favorite. Tickets are available at Borders, the El D finance office or through the Web Store on El D's Web site.
So no need to catch a tornado to Munchkin Land; just head downtown to the LJ, but do keep an eye to the sky. You have to watch out for those flying monkeys.
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