GREENE – Fans of the 1939 classic film Wizard of Oz will have a chance to see the film’s theatrical adaptation this weekend on the Greene High School stage as the Footlights present their spring musical.
With performances at 7 p.m. tonight and Saturday, and a matinee performance at 3 p.m. on Sunday, audiences will have three opportunities to see the student production of the popular musical. Tickets, which will be available at the door, are $7 for adults, $5 for students and senior citizens.
According to Amanda Boel, who co-directed the production with Nicole Cline, described the show as a change of pace from what the Footlights normally select for their spring musical.
“We thought it would be fun and enjoyable,” said Cline. That’s not to say, however, that there wasn’t plenty of hard work involved in putting the production together.
According to the two directors, the crew of volunteers responsible for creating the innovative set outdid themselves this year. The costuming, coordinated by Mary Wentlet, is also spectacular.
“She went far beyond on this one,” Boel said, adding that Wentlet goes out of her way to ensure that each character’s costume has a personality of its own.
From the unique styling of each Munchkin outfit and the elegance of the talking apple trees to the tin man’s metal attire, Boel said the costume designer “doesn’t miss a detail.”
But of course, it isn’t the costumes, but the students wearing them, that truly make the show. The cast, comprised of not only high school students, but a host of second graders as well, are fully prepared to wow audiences this weekend.
Senior Kasey Heisler - who played Belle in last year’s production of Beauty and the Beast - returns to the Greene stage as Dorothy. Her role allows her vocal talents to shine, as do those of the other principals: Nathanael Westover (Tin Man), George Flanagan (Scarecrow) and Ian Detweiler (the Cowardly Lion).
Westover, a sophomore at Greene High School, is no stranger to the stage. Despite his young age, he already has 5 or 6 years of acting experience under his Tin Man costume. He has also spent the last two summers participating in Binghamton University’s summer youth theater program.
“I’m really excited for getting such a lead role,” Westover said.
Flanagan, who portrayed the chauvinistic Gaston in last year’s production, is enjoying the comedic clumsiness of his role as the brainless Scarecrow. His character is more like him than the part he played last year, he said, and he likes the opportunity to “let loose” on stage.
Junior Ian Detweiler professes to love his role as the bravery-challenged Lion.
“It’s a fun character,” reported Detweiler, who said he draws his inspiration from both Bert Lahr’s performance in the 1939 feature film as well as from Mike Platta, his swim coach who also stars as the Wizard in the Footlights production.
“He’s been helping me a lot,” the 11th grader said. When in doubt, he said he asks himself “What would Platta do?” Then he throws his own interpretation into it to make it his own.
The production also features stand-out performances by Juniors Kortney Miranda, who exudes happiness and hopefulness as Glinda the Good Witch, and Abigail Conner, who is sure to frighten more than the Munchkins with her portrayal of the Wicked Witch of the West.
“I just love her, she’s so positive,” Miranda said, explaining it was easy for her to get into such an uplifting, worry-free character. “She really lets me escape from the hectic life of a teenager.”
Conner, on the other hand, exalts in the wickedness of her role, which was immortalized on film by Margaret Hamilton.
“There might have been some typecasting,” laughed the 11th grader, who admits that there have been more than a few “frightened Munchkins” on set during rehearsals.
The Greene High School Footlight’s will hold public performances of the Wizard of Oz at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night in the High School Auditorium, and at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for students and senior citizens.