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Darlington to present “The Wizard of Oz”
Jan 13, 2006 9:06 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Darlington’s drama, art, instrumental and choral music departments will come together to present L. Frank Baum’s classic “The Wizard of Oz” Feb. 17-19 at Rome City Auditorium. In this well-known story, Dorothy must travel over the rainbow to find out “there’s no place like home.”
“When I was little, I loved this movie, so it is really fun to help make all of these characters come to life,” said junior Ben Pate, who plays the Scarecrow.
Swept away by a Kansas tornado, Dorothy and her dog, Toto, are taken to a magical land of munchkins and talking trees. On their journey down the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City, she and her new friends – the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Lion – face danger, adventure and, of course, the Wicket Witch of the West. Luckily, they are helped along the way by Glinda the Good Witch of the North, a wizard who is not quite what he seems, and some very special red shoes.
“I’m really excited about the costumes and sets for this production because they are so much fun,” said junior Katherine Eid, who plays the Wicked Witch. “My favorite scene is when my character melts. It’s great to play such a dramatic and well-known character.”
With magical help and their own determination, the characters overcome all obstacles and learn a little bit about the importance of friendship and family.
The play, adapted from the MGM screenplay, features musical favorites including “If I Only Had a Brain,” “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead,” “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” and, of course, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
“My favorite musical selection is ‘Jitterbug,’ a swing tune reminiscent of the big band jazz era,” said Will Camp, instrumental director. “It is perhaps the least known song to those who have not seen the stage production before, as it was cut from the movie due to time constraints.”
With more than 75 Darlington students of all ages featured in the cast and crew, the show is guaranteed to be a delight.
“A performance involving students from all three schools is a massive undertaking, and requires an extreme load of patience,” said junior John Kagley, who plays the Lion. “I must say, though, cooperative work is really a great thing, and even though I don’t get to be with the munchkins, I look forward to their performance come show time.”
Co-Director Wendell Barnes said audiences will be surprised at how grand and colorful the production is. "Linda Hom, our volunteer stage manager, has been working for months ... this production could not happen without her amazing organizational skills and involvement," he said. "I know that when audiences leave one of our performances that Linda's work will be very evident and that they will know they have witnessed something very special - probably the most elaborate production Darlington has ever presented."
Junior Quincy Price, who plays the Wizard, urges everyone to see Darlington's rendition of the most beloved musical. "This show is such a spectacle ... its 'magic' is of no comparison to any that we have ever done during my time at Darlington," he said. "This play shows that the world created so many years by L. Frank Baum is still in existence. I hope that the audience reacts in a way to really truly understand the meaning of this production ... home."
Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday’s show is at 3 p.m. General admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children, students and senior citizens. Tickets are available at Bella Luna, Kroger East and West, The Music Room, Rome Area Council for the Arts, Traditions and the offices of Darlington Lower, Middle and Upper Schools. A limited number of reserved seats are available for each performance by calling 706-235-6051. Reserved tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children, students and senior citizens.
“When I was little, I loved this movie, so it is really fun to help make all of these characters come to life,” said junior Ben Pate, who plays the Scarecrow.
Swept away by a Kansas tornado, Dorothy and her dog, Toto, are taken to a magical land of munchkins and talking trees. On their journey down the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City, she and her new friends – the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Lion – face danger, adventure and, of course, the Wicket Witch of the West. Luckily, they are helped along the way by Glinda the Good Witch of the North, a wizard who is not quite what he seems, and some very special red shoes.
“I’m really excited about the costumes and sets for this production because they are so much fun,” said junior Katherine Eid, who plays the Wicked Witch. “My favorite scene is when my character melts. It’s great to play such a dramatic and well-known character.”
With magical help and their own determination, the characters overcome all obstacles and learn a little bit about the importance of friendship and family.
The play, adapted from the MGM screenplay, features musical favorites including “If I Only Had a Brain,” “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead,” “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” and, of course, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
“My favorite musical selection is ‘Jitterbug,’ a swing tune reminiscent of the big band jazz era,” said Will Camp, instrumental director. “It is perhaps the least known song to those who have not seen the stage production before, as it was cut from the movie due to time constraints.”
With more than 75 Darlington students of all ages featured in the cast and crew, the show is guaranteed to be a delight.
“A performance involving students from all three schools is a massive undertaking, and requires an extreme load of patience,” said junior John Kagley, who plays the Lion. “I must say, though, cooperative work is really a great thing, and even though I don’t get to be with the munchkins, I look forward to their performance come show time.”
Co-Director Wendell Barnes said audiences will be surprised at how grand and colorful the production is. "Linda Hom, our volunteer stage manager, has been working for months ... this production could not happen without her amazing organizational skills and involvement," he said. "I know that when audiences leave one of our performances that Linda's work will be very evident and that they will know they have witnessed something very special - probably the most elaborate production Darlington has ever presented."
Junior Quincy Price, who plays the Wizard, urges everyone to see Darlington's rendition of the most beloved musical. "This show is such a spectacle ... its 'magic' is of no comparison to any that we have ever done during my time at Darlington," he said. "This play shows that the world created so many years by L. Frank Baum is still in existence. I hope that the audience reacts in a way to really truly understand the meaning of this production ... home."
Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday’s show is at 3 p.m. General admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children, students and senior citizens. Tickets are available at Bella Luna, Kroger East and West, The Music Room, Rome Area Council for the Arts, Traditions and the offices of Darlington Lower, Middle and Upper Schools. A limited number of reserved seats are available for each performance by calling 706-235-6051. Reserved tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children, students and senior citizens.
