WELLS — There are high school, middle school and elementary school students acting, singing and dancing in United South Central School’s production of “The Wizard of Oz.”

And a little dog, too.

Plus students are doing the lights, set, props and choreography.

Because so many cast and crew members were involved in so many school activities, director Clayton Miller had to move the show one week later. USC has a reputation of good theater it wants to uphold.

“The extra week has made a difference,” Miller said. “We are getting into sync.”

The USC production of “The Wizard of Oz” debuts at 7 p.m. Friday in the school auditorium. Miller expects a packed house.

“It’s a wonderful, classic tale that everyone is familiar with,” he said. “I remember clearly as a child I couldn’t wait for it to be on TV.”

The production overcomes several obstacles, such as the small stage and the limited lighting, and it does it with some bright ideas, such as using lights to make the Yellow Brick Road, dry ice machines for smoke and a movie screen for part the backdrop. And the community members have drummed up impressive costumes from far and wide, Miller said.

“For a school this size, the theater productions are quite big,” he said. “The community takes pride and rallies behind us.”

Miller keeps his expectations quite high for the students because the communities in the USC district get behind plays. In turn, he challenges the actors to develop characters and make them relatable to the audience.

Dalton Farley says he makes his character, the Lion, relatable by doing his best to be like the one in the 1939 film. He’s watched the movie seven or eight times since the start of play practice.

“It was my favorite character when I watched the movie as a kid,” Farley said. “It was the part I was wanting when I tried out for the play.”

Brian Klein has enjoyed playing the Scarecrow. He even went so far, in the early days of play practice, to hold tennis balls in his armpits to make sure he gets his arms from his body, not at his side. After all, he is a lanky scarecrow.

By the way, it isn’t easy working with a dog. It can be unpredictable, said Hannah Goemann, who plays Dorothy.

Toto is the pet of Steven and Kim Jacobson of Bricelyn. His true name is Einstein, and he is a 9-year-old Shih Tzu-Pomeranian mix. He is making his stage debut.

 

Tickets, please

What: “The Wizard of Oz”
Where: United South Central School, Wells
When: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday
How much: $7 students, $7.50 seniors, $8 adults, or $30 family pack on Friday and Saturday; Sunday all tickets are $7

 

‘The Wizard of Oz’ cast
Dorothy    Hannah Goeman
Aunt Em    Heidi Wiebold
Uncle Henry    Brett Ulrich
Hunk/Scarecrow    Brian Klein
Hickory/Tin Man    Lucas George
Zeke/Lion    Dalton Farley
Miss Almira Gultch    Mikayla Gormley
Wicked Witch of the West    Erin Bias
Professor Chester Marvel/Wizard    Blaine Bias
Munchkin Mayor    Brett Pederson
Munchkin Farmer    Steve Rath
Munchkin Barrister    Alex Bachelder
Glinda the Good Witch of the North    Emily George
Munchkin Coroner    Amber Klein
Lord Growlie    Logan Thomson
Gloria    Monica Bye
Young Ozian Singer    Joy Wiersma
Ozian Girl    Claire Bias
Ozian Woman 1    Cassidy Latusek
Winkie General    Eric Redman
Nikko (Cmdr. of Flying Monkeys)    Brett Ulrich
Second-in-Command Flying Monkey    Jim Rath

Flying Monkeys
Eric Redman, Justin Dallman, Brett Pederson, Steve Rath

Winkie Soldiers
Alexander Bachelder, Brett Ulrich, Logan Thomson, Justin Dallman, Jim Rath

Munchkin Villagers
Cherish Streit, Shianne Robertson, Kaylynn Healey, Emily Garza, Claire Bias, Denis Rodriguez, Justin Dallman, Jim Rath, Logan Thomson, Lily Gonsalez, Samantha Andrews
(Plus about 30 elementary students.)

Yellow Brick Road
Singing Crow 1    Bailey Klingbeil
Singing Crow 2    Cassidy Latusek
Singing Crow 3    Monica Bye
Singing Crow 4    Heidi Wiebold
Dancing/Singing Tree 1    Leslie Drugg
Dancing/Singing Tree 2    Mikayla Gormley
Dancing/Singing Tree 3    Joy Wiersma
Dancing/Singing Trees    McKayla Warmka, Ashley Olson

Dancing Poppies
Leslie Drugg, Mikayla Gormley, Monica Bye, McKayla Warmka, Ashley Olson, Samantha Andrews, Kelly Spilman

Poppy Singers
Lilly Gonzalas, Emily Garza, Kaylynn Healy, Denis Rodriguez, Andree Escherich, Bethany Carroll, Cherish Streit, Shianne Robertson, Heidi Wiebold, Joy Wiersma, Bailey Klingbeil, Claire Bias, Amber Klein, Cassidy Latusek

Emerald City Ozians
Angel Cannon, Lilly Gonzalas, Emily Garza, Kaylynn Healy, Denis Rodriguez, Andree  Escherich, Bethany Carroll, Cherish Streit, Shianne Robertson, Heidi Wiebold, Amber Klein, Leslie Drugg, Mikayla Gormley McKayla Warmka, Ashley Olson, Samantha Andrews, Kelly Spilman, Cherish Streit, Shianne Robertson, Kaylynn Healy, Emily Garza, Denis Rodriguez, Justin Dallman, Jim Rath, Lily Gonsalez, Samantha Andrews, Kelly Spilman, Eric Redman, Brett Ulrich, Brett Pederson, Steve Rath

Jitterbugs
Mikayla Gormley, Leslie Drugg, Monica Bye, McKayla Warmka, Ashley Olson

Student Director    Ashley Olson
Choreographers    Mikayla Gormley and Leslie Drugg