Follow the Yellow Brick Road to Martin Exeter Hall on Feb. 28 for the opening night gala performance of 100 Mile Performing Arts Society’s production of The Wizard of Oz.
The iconic film version based on the 1900 novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum has become a much-loved classic for all ages, and the local stage version is sure to win hearts as director and choreographer Nicole Weir steers her well-oiled cast towards the Emerald City.
This is the first time in the director’s seat for accomplished actor and she says that while it’s been a learning curve, she has had the needed support and confidence from the cast to make it through and have fun doing it.
“They’ve been awesome. They treat me like I’ve always been their director, never doubting me.
“Last year, I was one of them, an actor, but they instantly switched to look at me as their director.”
The company’s former director Marie Hooper was there for guidance during the first month of rehearsals, but Nicole has been successfully learning as she goes since being left on her own.
Producer Jan Richmond keeps her organized, while stage, costume and each of the other managers run pretty much on auto-pilot.
With a month left until the curtain goes up, the cast members are on top of their lines and performing run-throughs of the entire production at each rehearsal. Nicole says she’s amazed at how easily child actor Lydia Kinasewich, who plays the lead role of Dorothy Gale, learned her lines.
“She’s had her lines memorized from the start. I’ve never seen a book in her hand and any changes I ask for, she does right away.”
Nicole adds all of the lead performers are well-suited to their roles, with Scarecrow played by Eric Storteboom, who has been with the company for many years and played Franz the butler in The Sound of Music.
Chris Adams is Cowardly Lion and Nicole’s husband, rookie actor Brian Weir, fills the squeaky suit of Tin Man.
His impressive costume is actually made of tin and comes on loan from a theatre group in Vanderhoof.
Expect to hear all of the familiar songs from the Oscar-winning movie and one more that wasn’t included, but is becoming one of Nicole’s favourites.
“Oz will be entertaining, and a classic feel-good show will have a little bit of a twist.”
The run will feature eight performances from Feb. 28 to March 2 and March 7-9. Curtain time is 7 p.m. each night, and the two Saturdays will also feature a matinee performance at 2 p.m.
Tickets are already on sale at Didi’s and Donex, and Nicole is urging people to buy them early to avoid disappointment.
“We’re anticipating sell-outs based on past history.”
Tickets are priced at $15 for general admission only.
