Expressions of fear swept across sophomore Olivia Phillips’ face as the tornado hoisted her into the air while she played the part of Dorothy on Wednesday, Nov. 9. Sounds of gusting wind filled the theater as crew members pushed a hand-made tornado across the stage. The next night, the same tornado swept across the stage, this time with a different Dorothy, played by sophomore Madison Plouvier.
In an effort to give more students the chance to perform, director Jon Copeland decided to double cast the nine leading roles in the fall production of The Wizard of Oz.
“In musicals, there are less opportunities to perform. It’s not like volleyball where you have a set number of players,” Copeland said. “With roles, you can train more students and double casting helps to achieve that goal. You create your own character with taking the same lines and making it different and your own.”
The leading roles included Dorothy, Auntie Em, Uncle Henry, Glinda, Wicked Witch of the West, Scarecrow, Tinman, Lion and Guard. When cast members weren’t performing lead roles, they performed in smaller parts such as munchkins and in the Lollipop Guild.
“It gives the audience two different shows with two different casts,” senior Brandon Burnworth, who played Lion, said. “It’s definitely a unique experience.”
With twice as many cast members, difficulties developed. Burnworth didn’t feel fully prepared for show night.
“I personally don’t like [double casting] because there are a lot of things that set back the cast,” Burnworth said. “I understand it gives Copeland the chance to experiment with twice as many people but with sharing roles, people don’t get as much practice.”
Despite the short timeline for practices, tickets sold out within nine days for all four shows. Two casts caused the interest in attending to spike with double the amount of family and peers wanting to see the show. Due to the quick sell-out, many people from the community, including students, didn’t have the chance to buy a ticket.
“I was a little upset because so many of my friends wanted to come,” Phillips said.
The cast made the most of their situation and grew close throughout the experience.
“I’m excited [about the overall production] because the casts all get along,” Phillips said. “We’re all finally having fun with it and we’re like one big family.”
