Well guys, this is it.  We have reached the final week of practice.  Next Tuesday we open to the public, and most of us (the cast) probably won’t wake up and realize this is for real until Monday night.  It really hits us hard but we come together quickly to pull together in the end and whip out an amazing show.  The final rehearsals are winding down, and guess what?  We sold out all four nights.  There are no more tickets available to see the show.  Due to the intense public demand, extra shows were considered twice, but the idea was shot down due to scheduling conflicts.  Thank you for buying tickets and supporting the drama department.  It is going to be an amazing show.

The last week has been a struggle for some and stress starts to kick in during the final days.  Remembering all the stuff is the hardest things for the actors; lines, dances, prop placements and entrances can become overwhelming.  When it comes to the Wizard of Oz, there are more of these than any other show we’ve done.

“This really is one of the largest productions we’ve ever done,” senior Paige Hillebert said.  “There’s a lot of things to remember and due to double casting, sometimes it can be harder for us since there’s more kids for Copeland to work with.”
All of the set pieces are now finished, and they look great.  My personal favorite is the Oz head.  Glowing green light bulbs are used for the eyes; they are very bright.  Director Jon Copeland has used creative ways to make the best use out of set pieces by saving more space back stage.  There isn’t much room backstage anymore, but he’s combined multiple sets into one to save space.  Some include the caravan/wagon, the house becomes the Wizard’s booth, and most notably, Munchkinland becomes the Emerald City in act two just by replacing the faceplate.

After tonight, all the actor’s will have is the weekend, and then the big day will be here.  There isn’t much left to write about the Oz blog.  We thank you again for purchasing tickets, and we look forward to seeing you at the show.