A month of hard work and practice has already been spent by the participating students of Tyrone Area Middle and High School to make this year’s musical, The Wiz, a success.
However, the next two weeks will be filled with even more activity as students and volunteers for the musical continue to spend countless hours on set production and on choreography, music and dialogue practice.
Dress rehearsals are scheduled to begin the week of March 28, and the curtain call for the actual shows will be Friday and Saturday, April 2-3, starting at 8 p.m., in the high school auditorium.
Musical director, Catherine Young; technical director, Ed Kuhstos and drama director, Mark Perehenic are leading a cast of 55 middle and high school students to be featured in The Wiz.
The show will also feature choreographed dance numbers by Tara Penick of the Richmond, Virginia Youth Ballet.
TAHS alumni Valerie Narehood, who is currently earning a Master’s Degree at the PSU School of Theatre, has designed a spectacular set. TASD art teachers Eric Feather and Colleen Ferrari and their students are currently in the process of adding their own artistic touches to the “Land of Oz.”
The Wiz is the Tony Award winning best musical version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz written by L. Frank Baum.
The show contains over 20 musical numbers ranging from gospel to funk to disco.
Featured hits include “Ease on Down the Road,” If You Believe” and “Home.”
Playing Dorothy is senior Stephanie Catich; playing the Scarecrow is senior Cory Jones; playing the Lion is senior Cody Jones; playing the Tin Man is senior Shane Gherrity and playing The Wiz is Robbi Dick.
Reserved tickets are $8, and general admission tickets are $5. Tickets may be purchased in person at the Tyrone Area High School main office, or orders can be placed by phoning 684-4240, extension 3700 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. each weekday.
