Audition season is back at Kennedy with this year’s spring musical, The Wizard of Oz. With the success of the new Wicked movies, the public has recently taken a look back on the 1939 film.
The story follows a young girl named Dorothy living on a farm in Kansas, when a tornado sweeps her and her dog, Toto, away to the magical land of Oz. Here, she and her newfound friends, the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion, follow the yellow brick road to meet the Wonderful Wizard of Oz to get back home.
Kennedy Theatre’s lead director, Steven Tolly, was asked a few questions about the upcoming production.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
KT: The Wizard of Oz has been performed hundreds of times, especially by high schools. Do you have any new takes on the material you hope to bring to the stage?
Yes, the Wizard of Oz has been done before, but that is why theatre is so great. We can do the same show, our way. I can guarantee you will not ‘be in Kansas anymore’.
What visuals are you most excited to direct/integrate onstage?
Alisabeth VonPresley and I have been working on shows together for 17 years, and we have never done what is expected. Her ability to breathe life into any script is uncanny, and I love every idea she has brought to the table for this show As a design team, we have already talked about incorporating projections, lighting, and an unconventional set design. Sometimes we throw a lot of ideas at the wall and hope they stick, and I hope we can pull off everything we have been talking about.
Why move from darker and more mature shows into a more family friendly musical?
It’s a classic musical with an amazing score. Our band department is amazing this year, and this score will let us show them off.
Consider signing up for an audition Feb. 9-Feb. 1o, after school in the choir room. Materials and sign-up sheets are located on the theatre board in the main hallway. If singing and dancing aren’t your style, consider signing up for the tech crew and helping backstage. Talk to Steven Tolly with any questions.