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The Tin Man, played by Liam Schrader, sings about why he wishes he had a heart. Also pictured are Emma Johnson as Dorothy, Josh Brooks as the Scarecrow and Gavin Gonsalez as Toto. Ayanna Eckblad/Albert Lea Tribune

United South Central High School will perform "The Wizard of Oz, Youth Edition" on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Pictured, from left, are Brooklyn Miller, Ezra Edwards, Gavin Gonsalez, Emma Johnson, Josh Brooks and Liam Schrader. Ayanna Eckblad/Albert Lea Tribune

Dorothy, played by Emma Johnson, convinces the Scarecrow, played by Josh Brooks, to join her to visit the Wizard of Oz. Ayanna Eckblad/Albert Lea Tribune

The Wicked Witch of the West, played by Brooklyn Miller, threatens Dorothy, played by Emma Johnson, and Toto, played by Gavin Gonsalez. Also pictured is Destiney Staloch as Glinda. Ayanna Eckblad/Albert Lea Tribune

Dorothy, played by Emma Johnson, convinces the Cowardly Lion, played by Ezra Edwards, to join her and her other friends on their trip to see the Wizard of Oz. Ayanna Eckblad/Albert Lea Tribune

United South Central High School will perform "The Wizard of Oz, Youth Edition" on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Pictured, from left, are Josh Brooks as the Scarecrow, Emma Johnson as Dorothy, Gavin Gonsalez as Toto, Liam Schrader as the Tin Man and Ezra Edwards as the Cowardly Lion. Ayanna Eckblad/Albert Lea Tribune

By Ayanna Eckblad

A timeless favorite will soon be making its debut at United South Central High School in Wells.

Students will perform “The Wizard of Oz, Youth Edition” at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday as well as at 2 p.m. Sunday at the high school auditorium.

Tickets for the production can be purchased at the door. Tickets can also be purchased in advance at the high school but will not have special seating.

Students, staff and parents have been hard at work over the past two months preparing for this show, and all are excited to bring it to an audience.

For Kirstyn Wegner, USC English teacher and the play’s director, “The Wizard of Oz” holds a special place in her heart. Her father, Clay Miller, directed plays at the school from 1994 to 2016. One of the first plays he directed was “The Wizard of Oz,” and Wegner, who was 8 at the time, played a munchkin.

“It’s a really cool thing to do alongside your kid,” Wegner said. “I did it with my dad, and my daughter’s in the show, and it’s a really special thing to do with your family.”

Wegner’s daughter, Nadia Wegner, plays one of the citizens of Oz in this year’s play.

Not only is Wegner a seasoned professional in the show, but so is costume designer Reese Druckenmiller. She was involved in USC’s production of “The Wizard of Oz” as a seventh grader, and now does costumes for the show as an adult. The play has a total of about 35 cast members and 90 costumes in all.

“Reese came ready to costume the show,” Wegner said. “The costumes are fantastic.”

When deciding what play to perform this year, Wegner said she felt this was the right year to bring back “The Wizard of Oz” based on the students who are involved in theater.

“I have the right mix of kids, and I have a lot of mature talent, and I’m glad I’m able to showcase it,” she said. “We have a lot of dedicated juniors and seniors especially, and this is a good send-off show for them … They’re working hard to make it the best it can be.”

Many of the main cast members have participated in past musicals at USC like “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Lion King” and “Frozen Junior.”

Wegner said the juniors and seniors this year have been crucial in assisting with getting the play off the ground and turning it from an idea into a reality.

“This is a very technically complex show,” she said. “Lots of moving set pieces and scene changes and a lot to stay organized backstage, and there’s not a lot of room backstage … It takes so much time to figure out all those details. Like, how do you make the witch melt? How do you make the yellow brick road appear? And it’s just a lot of engineering.”

She added the kids brought a lot of great ideas to the table.

Wegner said the students also helped with blocking decisions, running rehearsals and other creative choices. The senior students even took it upon themselves to bedazzle the ruby slippers that Emma Johnson, playing Dorothy, will wear in the show.

“For my senior show, it’s really special because it was my very first favorite musical and it’s what got me into theater,” said Josh Brooks, who plays the Scarecrow. “It’s a little sentimental to me.”

Liam Schrader, a senior who plays the Tin Man, had similar sentiments about this year’s show.

“It makes me so excited to see the excitement on the crowd’s face, and it just reminds me of why I love doing theater,” he said. “To see all the hard work we put in the last couple months and bring that to the audience.”

Doing this familiar play comes with advantages as well as challenges. The school’s theater department did not have to buy or make many costumes or set pieces as there are many left from past performances.

However, the students at USC will perform a youth version of “The Wizard of Oz,” which has a shorter run time. While this can make things easier for students with other time commitments, it can also be a challenge to learn lines that are different from lines in the movie which they grew up on.

“It’s been challenging to do a show that’s so similar but has a lot of differences,” Wegner said.

Everyone involved with the play has worked countless hours making sure the show is a success. Wegner said she hopes the performance will give the audience a sense of nostalgia and awe at what the students are capable of.

“I hope people feel that sense of home,” she said.

Cast
Dorothy Gale: Emma Johnson
Aunt Em: Clare Kruse
Uncle Henry: Noah Hicks
Hunk (Scarecrow): Josh Brooks
Zeke (Lion): Ezra Edwards
Hickory (Tin Man): Liam Schrader
Miss Gulch (Wicked Witch of the West): Brooklyn Miller
Toto: Gavin Gonsalez
Professor Marvel (Wizard, Oz’s Voice): Aiden Edwards
Emerald City Doorman: Sam Treptow
Emerald City Guard: Maxwell Schull
Glinda: Destiney Staloch
Lady in Rocking Chair: Madison Meyer
Rowboat Man #1: Sam Treptow
Rowboat Man #2: Ben Schwartz
Cow: Austin Rath
Munchkin # 1: Reyna Solland
Munchkin # 2: Priscilla Romano
Mayor of Munchkin City: Grace Hicks
Barrister: Harrison Chandler
City Father # 1: Madalynn Sonnek
City Father # 2: Anna Buendorf
Coroner: Madison Meyer
Lullaby League (Tiny Tots):
Nadia Wegner
Elyse Bird
Ella Schnebly
Lollipop Guild (Tough Guys):
Lucy Woodring
Cameron Swehla
Kaylee Larson
Honorary Lollipop Guild: Audie Olsen
Crows:
Grace Hicks
Anna Buendorf
Ella Schnebly
Apple Tree #1: Hailey Chandler
Apple Tree # 2: Austin Rath
Apple Tree # 3: Maxwell Schull
Jitterbugs:
Grace Hicks
Maddie Meyer
Ella Schnebly
Clare Kruse
Nikko: Ben Schwartz
Winged Monkeys:
Madalynn Sonnek
Sam Treptow
Leader of the Winkies: Austin Rath
Winkie Guards:
Maxwell Schull
Harrison Chandler
Brody Stern

Ensemble:
Optimistic Voices Choir
Madison Meyer
Kaylee Larson
Lucy Woodring
Priscilla Romano
Anna Buendorf
Nadia Wegner

Munchkins:
Nevaeh Carlock
Jessabelle Gallardo
Aiden Edwards
Ben Schwartz
Alleigh Seedorf
Mercila Whiteside
Rhylee Roth

Ozians:
Nevaeh Carlock
Reyna Solland
Jessabelle Gallardo
Nadia Wegner
Madison Meyer
Madalynn Sonnek
Ella Schnebly
Lucy Woodring
Grace Hicks
Audie Olsen
Kaylee Larson
Hailey Chandler
Harrison Chandler
Destiney Staloch
Noah Hicks
Priscilla Romano
Clare Kruse
Anna Buendorf
Alleigh Seedorf
Cameron Swehla
Mercila Whiteside
Rhylee Roth