Flying monkeys, talking scarecrows and a man who rules an entire land from behind a curtain.
That’s only some of the fun things you should expect to see at Oxford High School’s Drama Club and Choir performance of ‘The Wizard of Oz? April 26-29 at the Performing Arts Center.
It’s been twelve years since OHS last performed Oz, but director Marge Payne said this year’s play will be based more on the popular 1939 film than the original novel.
Based on the story ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz? written by L. Frank Baum, the musical follows the lonely and sad Kansas farmgirl, Dorothy (Samantha Adams/Stephanie Schmidt), who dreams of a better place without torment against her dog, Toto, from a hateful spinster neighbor, so she plans to run away.
During a fierce tornado, she is transported to a land ‘beyond the rainbow? where she meets magical characters, like the Scarecrow (Kate McQuater), Tin Man (Adrianne Schmidt) and Cowardley Lion (Hannah Summers), from her Kansas life transformed within her unconscious dream state.
After travels down a Yellow Brick Road to the Land of Oz, and the defeat of the Wicked Witch of the West (Rachel Napoleon), Dorothy and her friends are rewarded by the Wizard of Oz (Chandler Macocha) with their hearts? desires ? and Dorothy is enabled to return home with the help of Glinda the Good Witch of the North (Amanda Ryskamp).
Payne said she wanted to perform the film version of the story so she could include the infamous, and sometimes horrifying, flying monkeys, which the book does not have.
Though there are subtle differences from the book compared to the film, like how the main characters leave Oz in a rocketship and not a balloon, Payne said the play is still true to the timeless story.
One thing ‘Wizard of Oz? purists will be excited to see at the OHS play will be the scene in the Witch’s Haunted Forest featuring the song ‘Jitterbug.?
In the film there was originally a scene where the Witch sends a pink and blue bug called the Jitterbug into the forest to ‘take the fight out of? Dorothy and the gang. When one of the characters was bit, they would start dancing helplessly.
Six dancers from local dance studios were selected to perform various dance sequences during scenes like the ‘Jitterbug? and even the Kansas tornado scene.
‘They’re so talented,? Payne said. ‘You just give them the music and the ideas just flow from them.?
But the talent doesn’t stop there.
Handmade costumes and set design are also key to their performance.
All of the main characters? parents created their costumes, which Payne said she was ‘totally blown away? by the quality.
‘They are so professional and so outstanding you cannot believe it,? she said.
Payne said audience members will be amazed at the elaborate 12-foot tall Emerald City, which was designed to open up for a total of three different sets.
The first set is the outer city, complete with a window for the doorkeeper. It then opens into the inside of the city, which can open up into the Wizard’s chamber.
The intimidating ruler’s head is carved from wood and stands at three-feet tall.
Pyrotechnics from the Kansas based TASDAD Design Services will make the scene even more awe-inspiring, while California based ZFX Flying Effects will make the Witch and monkeys fly.
Dorothy’s house in Kansas is also unique because it is an actual 8 x 12 shed designed by Payne’s husband, George.
Audience members can purchase raffle tickets for $5 and have the chance to win the shed on closing night.
Performances are:
Thursday, April 26 ? 7 p.m.
Friday, April 27 ? 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 28 ? 7 p.m.
Sunday, April 29 ? 4 p.m.
Tickets are $8 for general admission. Children under 10 and adults over 60 are $5. Patron tickets are available by contacting Marge Payne at (248) 969-5200 ext. 5168.

Meet the rest of the cast…
Chelsea Landry ? Auntie Em
Jake Havener ? Uncle Henry
Munchkins/Ozians: Jenifer Bizzotto, Molly Bruner, Kathleen Cardinell, Renee Carol, Elizabeth Ligon, Chandler Macocha (Mayor/Winkie General), Marsha McMunn (Barrister), Erica Schuelter, Katie Paul, Dale Peltier (Coroner), Alyssa Rathburg, Rachel Richards, Stephanie Rider, Jordan Scholz, Chelsea Smith, Lindsay Sutherland, Amber Zarnecki and Caryn Zmikley.
Trees: Marsha McMunn, Kelsey Rosenhauer and Jordan Scholz.
Winkies: Ben Chizmadia, Trisha Kachin, Spencer MacLeod and Dale Peltier
Flying monkeys: Matt Balch, Jordan Scholz, Taylor Aubin, Samantha Matsumoto and Tabatha Lowe.
Dancers: Rachel Adler, Nissa Grifen, Sammie Knight, Jessica Pike, Shawna Weemaes and Kim Rizzo.