Editorial Note: Tickets for Woodrow Wilson High School’s Theater Performance group are ready for purchase on the popular website, “Gofan.co“. Ticket sales serve as the sole source of income for next year’s production. Tickets will be $10 for students and $15 for adults. Show dates include: Feb. 21-23 and February 28-March 2. Shows conducted on Fridays and Saturdays will start at 7 o’clock. Shows conducted on Sundays will start at 2:00.
Woodrow Wilson High School’s Theater Performance Organization will be performing The Wizard of Oz this February and March. For many years, the organization of student-based actors has brought a great amount of prestige and honor to the school. Jerri Stack, one of two show directors, expresses how this year’s group has gone far and beyond. “I am proud of the cooperation and eagerness, not to mention the talent, of the students in this show. They are a joy to work with, and it is fun just to know them and watch them grow. We are truly blessed.”
The Wizard of Oz, written in the year 1900, follows the story of a young girl from Kansas named Dorothy Gale. In the story, she travels to the magical land of Oz via a cyclone. Dorothy is then instructed to travel the yellow brick road and meet with the mystical Wizard of Oz. On her way she meets three companions and faces many challenges.
Kate Hontz, a senior of Woodrow, will portray the main protagonist, Dorothy Gale of Kansas. Hontz, who has been a part of the organization since the 2022-2023 school year, is known for her well-rounded abilities of dancing, acting, and singing. When preparing for her audition of this year’s production, she knew that she wanted to audition for the main role. To obtain such a large part, she spent countless hours practicing the song and memorizing her monologue. Once the cast list was finalized, Hontz immediately felt a sense of relief and was overcome with joy. As the spring production approaches, she admits that “playing Dorothy is a lot harder than it seems. You have to have lots of energy all the time, which can be very difficult. She has very big and dramatic emotions a lot of the time. I’ve spent countless hours repeating the same thing to help figure out which way is best.”
As a senior, Kate has watched many talents graduate from the stage of Woodrow Wilson High School. In reflection, she remembers both the good, the stressful, exciting, and the scary. “Being a senior is a weird feeling. Every once in a while you remember this is your last show and then you get sad. However, you also become more determined to make it the best show you’ve ever done.”
Brianna Scott will portray the main antagonist of Dorothy Gale as the Wicked Witch of The West. Scott, who is a junior of Woodrow, has also been a part of the organization since the 2022-2023 school year. When preparing for her audition of the Wicked Witch, Scott spent countless hours perfecting her witch’s voice and cackle. “For my auditioned monologue I portrayed Maleficent from Disney’s Sleeping Beauty and read lines from when she curses Aurora. I also sang Red Shoe Blues for my required song. In my personal opinion, I feel as though these options perfectly reflected the character I wanted to portray. The Wicked Witch, after all, is a cruel, snarky creature of nature.” When asked about her favorite part about the organization, Scott reports to members of the Eagle Dispatch “that little moment when the show finally comes together, after all the hard work we do,” is most memorable.
The theater department of Woodrow Wilson High School will host a total of six public performances and will present five private school shows. Due to the Professional Learning Day on Feb. 26, the theater program has received approval from the Raleigh County Board of Education to add an extra school performance before the first public show. In total, 23 schools will participate in the five private school shows, with Beckley Stratton Middle School bringing the largest number of students. It is important to note that Woodrow will not be included in these 23 participating schools.
During the six public performances, children of the community will have the chance to join the cast on stage. Similar to previous productions at Woodrow, the department has offered a kids camp as a fundraiser for the play. According to Director Jerri Stack, “kids camp allows an opportunity for younger kids to be a part of our show. Every time we’ve hosted it in the past, it has proved as a valuable source of entertainment and fundraising.” This year, 52 children will be participating in the kids camp, ranging in ages from five years old to Fifth grade. These 52 individuals have received a myriad of benefits, including free choreography videos, a t-shirt, and a unique opportunity to perform on a professional-grade stage.
Unlike last school year, the set and costumes will be rented. The set, coming from Los Angeles, appeared on stage Saturday, Feb. 8. Consisting of a large arrangement of pieces, the set was shipped on a 52-foot trailer and traveled across several states. The Academy of Careers and Technology’s construction department was able to help put together the many pieces of the complex build. The costume company, ironically named Kansas City Costume Company, has guaranteed that the cast’s outfits will be delivered by Feb. 18.
In conclusion, the theater department wishes to remind members of the community that the primary source for the funding of the arts is from ticket admission. Meaning your attendance serves as the funding for the next production at Woodrow Wilson High School. Admittance for the public will be available: February 21, February 22, February 23, Feb 28, March 1, and March 2. The cost of admission will range from $10 for students and $15 for adults. Tickets can be bought online using the popular website, “Gofan.co”
