When Dorothy Gale’s tornado-driven house comes to a landing in the land of Oz, Zoe Nygaard will be there.
The Independence Elementary third-grader plays a Munchkin in ‘Wizard of Oz,? Fisher Theatre, Detroit, through Feb. 14.
‘I love acting. It’s really fun, a great experience,? said Zoe, 9, who lives in Independence Township with her parents Nicole and Greg Nygaard, and brother Luk. ‘I really love to sing on stage ? I feel really happy up here. It’s my favorite thing to do.?
A student for the past two years at Deborah’s Stage Door Center for the Performing Arts in Rochester, she was picked to audition for one of 12 Munchkin roles reserved for local young performers. About 70 performers tried out, she said.
‘I was really nervous, but it was fun,? Zoe said. ‘It was pretty hard but kind of easy.?
Rehearsals started about a month ago, three times a week until the week before opening night, when rehearsals were four-hours long, every day.
‘We would perform the dances over and over to get them right,? said Zoe, who will perform ‘Ding Dong the Witch is Dead,? ‘Follow the Yellow Brick Road,? and other tunes.
‘It’s pretty intense,? Nicole said. ‘I think it’s incredible. I’ve never seen her so happy. She sings all day long.?
Zoe has taken acting classes since she was about 6 years old, singing since she was 2, and performs in musical productions at Stage Door as well as Clarkston High School.
‘I want to be an actress and a singer when I grow up,? she said.
‘I’m not sure where she gets it,? Nicole said. ‘Maybe she’s an old soul ? I don’t know.?
‘The Wizard of Oz? opened Jan. 29 and runs through Feb. 14, 21 shows total, at the Fisher Theatre, 3011 W. Grand Boulevard in Detroit.
‘The show will be different, fresh and new,? said Zoe, who also plays a Winkie, one of the Wicked Witch of the West’s soldiers. ‘People will be really excited. The sets are pretty cool and the costumes are awesome ? really colorful.?
Tickets are $24-79 at the Fisher Theatre box office, or online at www.broadway indetroit.com or www.ticketmaster.com. For more information, call 800-982-2787 or check www.wizardofozontour.com.