Bob Foos
You’ve seen the movie – now you can see an interpretation of how L. Frank Baum was inspired to write “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” and the struggle it took to get him to put his vision on the page.
The Webb City theatre department is presenting “Before Oz” this weekend in Cardinal Theater. Show times are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
Lauren Grove’s new play shows the real-life characters who inspired Baum. For instance, his mother-in-law is the Wicked Witch.
Director Tiffany Bolin says the department is excited to be among the first in the nation to perform the play.
Unlike often-performed plays, Bolin says they have had to figure out on their own how to approach the two time periods. Baum’s wife appears while the book was written in the late 1800s and then tells about it in the 1950s. She was the good witch – despite her insistence in urging Baum to write the book.
Bolin says the message of the play is, “Don’t be afraid of who you want to be.”
She credits the recent “Wicked” movies for an unusual amount of interest among students to try out for the spring play. There were 87 who auditioned.
CAST
Lillyann Bell – Maud
Eli Berry – Robbie
Claire DeFazio – Dorothy
Anna Elwell – Publisher/Doctor/Ensemble
Bree Farmer – Publisher/Ensemble
Emma Hunt – Ensemble
Jlah Jarmin – Bernice/Ensemble
Carson Mathes – Bert/Ensemble
Maddie McDonald – Mrs. Baum
Jacob Melton – Cleetus/Ensemble
Addie Moss – Sarah/Ensemble
Brooklyn Nikodim – Mary Louise/Ensemble
Molly Owens – Peggy
Gracyn Patterson – Ensemble
Kelsey Phillips – Mrs. Bolger/Ensemble
Jagger Pinion – Bill/Farmer/Ensemble
Landon Powers – Thomas/Ensemble
Ryane Ragsdale – Matilda
Jayden Rider – George/Ensemble
Emre Schwartz – Frank Baum
Justis Snyder – Harry
Brayden Spence – Lenny/Ensemble
Marley Thomas – Ensemble
CREW
Author – Lauren Grove
Director – Tiffany Bolin
Tech Director – Ragan Neece
Stage Managers – Noel Gray, Anastynn Wells
Sound Effect/Projections Op – Gavin Barnes
Sound Mixer – Alex Edge
Light Board Op – Nick Wade
Costumes – Addison Griffin, Summer Heffington, Zur’Rhia Hester, Millie Keeton, Madison Mathes, Natalie Mathis, Aine Rogers, Ivy Turosik, Anna Warren
Hair/Makeup – Kadence Cabalero, Scarlett Frerking, Brookelynn Grider, Charlotte Owens, Lilianna Smith, Taylor Smith
Props Crew – Shiah Heck, Nadia Jones, Baker Malone, Naomi Miller, Jaelyn Rumble
Props Support – Ky’Layiah Hackett, Olivia Udock
Grip/Set Building – Izzy Barnes, Grace Jones, Emmarie Vantrease, Hope Williams
Set Building – Jordan Crosby, Skylar Dobbins,Ava Holmes, Rory McCullough, Jacob Melton, Naomi Miller, Isis Wishall
Publicity – Skylar Dobbins, Kati Dodson, Carter Harris, Ava Holmes, Madison Mathes, Alivia Nieburg, Kelsey Phillips, Lillianna Smith, Adelyn West
Projections – Kati Dodson, Noel Gray, Shiah Heck, Leigh – La Schmitt, Anna Warren, Isis Wishall