Case Middle School students took audiences down the yellow brick road with an exciting production of “The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition” at Dillingham Hall in April. “I’m filled with pride and gratitude for our student actors, crew, production team and the incredible volunteer support that made the show possible,” says Punahou Director of Theatre Melinda Moore. “Taking such a beloved classic and crafting a fresh, cohesive concept was deeply rewarding and a powerful example for our students of what imagination and collaboration can achieve.”
The production was made all-the-more special by adopting several creative measures, including transforming Toto into a puppet with a student puppeteer, reimagining the yellow brick road as dancing train conductors – and double-casting the leads.
One of the highlights was the production team’s show concept, which brought Oz to life through Dorothy’s dreams. “Everything in Oz stemmed from her memories of 1930s Kansas: the Flying Monkeys were inspired by a stuffed sock monkey on her bed, the Munchkins’ costumes echoed her blue quilt, and the Emerald City took shape from a Tiffany lamp on her nightstand,” Moore says. “The team’s attention to detail and creative vision was thrilling, and the students had so much fun discovering the world of Oz right alongside us.
Some 73 students participated directly in the production, including 18 who were part of the crew. In total, there were 61 volunteers who were behind the scenes. The iconic tale has been making headlines recently because it was the inspiration for the blockbuster movie, “Wicked” – which delighted Moore. “We were inspired by the excitement surrounding the new movie,” she says. “We wanted to revisit the original story with our students, while sharing its timeless magic with young audiences.”