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Riverbend Youth Company to perform Wizard of Oz
By Janine Leffler
Riverbend Youth Company to perform Wizard of Oz
By Janine Leffler
The Riverbend School of Theatre Arts will transport their audiences to the magical land of Oz. The show has been double cast and has 200 local area youth performing. The cast is excited about the upcoming performances and looks forward to putting on the show for audiences. Director Tom Partridge said of the production “This show has many scenes and is going to be full of surprises, not one to miss. This is very close to the movie version and will be one to remember for years to come.”
For both Aly McKnight who plays Dorothy and Choreographer Ashley Hughes being in this show has come full circle. Both McKnight and Hughes were in the 2002 production of Wizard of Oz. Hughes played the role of Dorothy and McKnight was a munchkin. For Hughes it has been fulfilling to work with Tom Partridge, the same director who directed her as Dorothy. “It has been incredible to see how time flies and thinking it’s been almost a decade since I played that role and seeing the same people. It makes me want to do it all over again.” McKnight looked up to Ashley Hughes when she played Dorothy in the PTA Play. “When I was younger I always wanted to be just like Ashley, now I am playing Dorothy and Ashley is my choreographer. Aside from the awesome cast and how well we all get along, this has been the most fulfilling thing for me about working on this show.”
Cast members have various methods for getting into character. Patrick Quinn studies the back story of his character the Tin Man. Patrick McKnight who is playing the Scarecrow gets some tips from his father Mike McKnight who played the same role in the PTA play in 2002. Aly McKnight who is playing Dorothy, Emily Getchell Lacey who is playing Glinda and Patrick O’Mara the Cowardly Lion study the mannerisms of the actors in the original 1939 film.
Patrick O’Mara, a junior at Souhegan High School stated that the overall challenge for him in this particular production is “This is definitely a very demanding show - there are some new parts and lines that were not in the movie. Also, the directors’ expectations are extremely high, as they should be. With school and other commitments, I have to work extremely hard to meet their standards but I know that going the extra mile will pay off at show time!” For Emily Getchell Lacey it’s a matter of getting the younger children to focus during the munchkin land scene. Peter Benoit struggles memorizing the lines for his monologue. Ally McKnight ‘s struggle is finding a balance between Dorothy’s child like innocence and adult like spunk. Despite all these challenges the cast members look forward to the performances.
From a technical standpoint the size of the cast has been the biggest challenge for costume designer Michelle Withers. While this is the largest show Withers has had to costume what makes things simpler for her is that various costume pieces can be worn by each group of kids. “There are 11 Winkie Guards in each cast. The costume is made up of a spear, fur hat, skirt and two sashes with the actor supplying their own black pants and gray shirt. I only have to make 11 costumes as the pieces are versatile and can be worn by both casts.” Cast size is also a struggle for Choreographer Ashley Hughes. “It is nearly impossible to get everyone together under the same roof, so when I teach a dance, its really challenging to come back the next time and have a handful who are ready to review, and a handful who are needing to learn it for the first time, but everyone is wonderful and helps out as much as they possibly can! This is obviously something I didn’t come up against being Dorothy, but I know that it IS a very similar challenge to what MY choreographer did as well.”
Choreographer Ashley Hughes said that she is looking forward to the upcoming performances “I am more excited as they approach! They are ready to rock out an amazing show! All they need is an audience!!!”
The Wizard of Oz will be performed at the Souhegan Valley Boys and Girls Club May 14-23. Evening shows are 7:30 and matinee shows are at 2:00. Come see a show that will truly defy gravity
For both Aly McKnight who plays Dorothy and Choreographer Ashley Hughes being in this show has come full circle. Both McKnight and Hughes were in the 2002 production of Wizard of Oz. Hughes played the role of Dorothy and McKnight was a munchkin. For Hughes it has been fulfilling to work with Tom Partridge, the same director who directed her as Dorothy. “It has been incredible to see how time flies and thinking it’s been almost a decade since I played that role and seeing the same people. It makes me want to do it all over again.” McKnight looked up to Ashley Hughes when she played Dorothy in the PTA Play. “When I was younger I always wanted to be just like Ashley, now I am playing Dorothy and Ashley is my choreographer. Aside from the awesome cast and how well we all get along, this has been the most fulfilling thing for me about working on this show.”
Cast members have various methods for getting into character. Patrick Quinn studies the back story of his character the Tin Man. Patrick McKnight who is playing the Scarecrow gets some tips from his father Mike McKnight who played the same role in the PTA play in 2002. Aly McKnight who is playing Dorothy, Emily Getchell Lacey who is playing Glinda and Patrick O’Mara the Cowardly Lion study the mannerisms of the actors in the original 1939 film.
Patrick O’Mara, a junior at Souhegan High School stated that the overall challenge for him in this particular production is “This is definitely a very demanding show - there are some new parts and lines that were not in the movie. Also, the directors’ expectations are extremely high, as they should be. With school and other commitments, I have to work extremely hard to meet their standards but I know that going the extra mile will pay off at show time!” For Emily Getchell Lacey it’s a matter of getting the younger children to focus during the munchkin land scene. Peter Benoit struggles memorizing the lines for his monologue. Ally McKnight ‘s struggle is finding a balance between Dorothy’s child like innocence and adult like spunk. Despite all these challenges the cast members look forward to the performances.
From a technical standpoint the size of the cast has been the biggest challenge for costume designer Michelle Withers. While this is the largest show Withers has had to costume what makes things simpler for her is that various costume pieces can be worn by each group of kids. “There are 11 Winkie Guards in each cast. The costume is made up of a spear, fur hat, skirt and two sashes with the actor supplying their own black pants and gray shirt. I only have to make 11 costumes as the pieces are versatile and can be worn by both casts.” Cast size is also a struggle for Choreographer Ashley Hughes. “It is nearly impossible to get everyone together under the same roof, so when I teach a dance, its really challenging to come back the next time and have a handful who are ready to review, and a handful who are needing to learn it for the first time, but everyone is wonderful and helps out as much as they possibly can! This is obviously something I didn’t come up against being Dorothy, but I know that it IS a very similar challenge to what MY choreographer did as well.”
Choreographer Ashley Hughes said that she is looking forward to the upcoming performances “I am more excited as they approach! They are ready to rock out an amazing show! All they need is an audience!!!”
The Wizard of Oz will be performed at the Souhegan Valley Boys and Girls Club May 14-23. Evening shows are 7:30 and matinee shows are at 2:00. Come see a show that will truly defy gravity
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