Students bring Wizard of Oz to the stage

Rainey Ross rehearses for her role as Dorothy in Cabot High School’s upcoming production of The Wizard of Oz. Performances will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Cabot High School Theatre.
Rainey Ross rehearses for her role as Dorothy in Cabot High School’s upcoming production of The Wizard of Oz. Performances will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Cabot High School Theatre.

— Monkeys, munchkins and music … oh my!

Hold onto your ruby slippers, because Cabot High School’s whirlwind of theatrical talent is sure to blow audience members away.

Students are gearing up to perform The Wizard of Oz at 7 p.m. Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Cabot High School Theatre.

Tickets will be $7 at the door.

Ashley Tarvin, theater and dance director at Cabot High School, said the one-hour adaptation of the classic 1939 musical will follow the plot of the original film.

“Dorothy Gale, a young girl living on a Kansas farm has dreams of escaping her rural life. She has no idea that a tornado will introduce her to the characters of Oz,” Tarvin said.

Tarvin said the performance will be packed with singing and dancing that will entertain audience members of all ages.

“Stagecraft students produced and developed ideas for the set and lighting, theater dance students created choreography, and a costume crew designed and sewed costumes. The Wicked Witch [actress] sketched an original design for our T-shirts,” she said.

Vocal music director Ben Brockinton has worked hard to prepare actors for musical numbers, Tarvin said.

Styles of dance in the musical will include acro, ballet, jazz, lyrical, military and musical theater.

Tarvin said classic favorites such as, “If I Only Had a Brain,” “Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead” and “Over the Rainbow” will likely stir up some nostalgia in the audience.

A talented group of young “up-and-comers” earned leading roles, she said, including juniors Rainey Ross, Klara McElroy and Allison Snodgrass; sophomores Caleb Mimms and Trey Pierce; and seniors Sam Gibson and Kaylie Tuttle.

“We are one of the largest theater departments in the state. With more than 315 students in Stagecraft 1, 2 and 3; Theatre 1, 2 and 3; and Theatre Dance, our program is inclusive of all kinds of students who are involved across the campus. It is the one place you will find students from so many different activities come together as a family,” Tarvin said.

“I am lucky to have two new gifted stagecraft directors, Courtney Shepard and Liz Yielding, incorporate digital animations as the backdrops and execute a fairy-tale set. The design will take you from the traveling tornado to the whimsical ‘Merry Old Land of Oz,’” she said.

Tarvin said her costume crew and student director, Haley Cohea, have also worked hard to bring the classic characters to life.

McElroy said her life revolves around theater, and her dramatic entrances on stage throughout the play will be a lot of fun, but playing the role of the Wicked Witch of the West is more than just an activity to her.

“One of the reasons I have such a great time playing this character is because she has the ability to make people listen and make sure she is heard. In real life, I have a hard time being vocal about just about anything, so it feels amazing to have that power while I’m onstage,” McElroy said.

She said theater helps her express herself while releasing stress and anxiety, and she enjoys interacting with characters onstage without holding anything back.

Rehearsals have also helped her learn to walk in heels, she said.

“I have to wear tall heels because I’m so short, and the villain kind of needs to be a bit bigger and more intimidating than who she’s supposed to be tormenting, and the heels are just part of it,” McElroy said.

“This role has helped me learn more about stage presence and using my movements onstage, as well as how I use my voice to compensate for my small stature so I can still fill up the stage so it doesn’t feel empty. Having confidence is a key part of playing this role. You can’t count on just your costume or your mic to do your job for you. You have to learn to be bigger than you actually are,” she explained.

Gibson said he is a huge fan of the classic film, and he’s excited to play the legendary role of the Tin Man.

“My favorite scene is after we defeat the Wicked Witch and go back to the Wizard; our cast just makes it come alive and work so well,” he said.

Gibson said he has wanted to be involved in theater since he was a child and often observed the actors in movies he watched.

“It’s important to me, as it allows us to see different people, and we express ourselves in ways that are so expressively intimate. It’s such an amazing experience,” he said.

Gibson said the most rewarding thing about being a part of the performance is to set an example for younger actors and actresses.

“The most rewarding part of directing the musical is to see the culmination of ideas from students, directors and staff come to life onstage,” Tarvin said. “We spend countless hours on details, and I believe that is what makes our productions magical.”

To reserve tickets to The Wizard of Oz, text (501) 259-6400.

Staff writer Kayla Baugh can be reached at (501) 244-4307 or kbaugh@arkansasonline.com.

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