Tea Area’s ‘Wizard of Oz’ takes flight this weekend
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
Final preparations are underway as Tea Area students get ready to bring The Wizard of Oz to life on stage this weekend, with performances set for Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25 at 7 p.m. inside the Tea Area Performing Arts Center.
Doors will open at 6:15 p.m., and tickets are available online or at the door for $5 per seat.
As excitement builds, director Mary Beth Sutton says one of the most breathtaking elements of this year’s production is quite literally taking the show to new heights.
ZFX Theatricals flying instructor Troy Trinkle recently spent three intensive days working with students and staff to incorporate professional flying effects into the performance. In total, the show will feature nine flying moments, adding a dramatic and magical element to the beloved classic.
“It is pretty amazing to see that aspect come together with all the elementary students in Munchkinland and then making another appearance as another character later in the show,” said Sutton.
While only a select few students will experience flying on stage, the impact of the effect extends throughout the entire cast and audience experience.
The large-scale production continues to highlight collaboration across all grade levels. Elementary students play a major role in Munchkinland, while high school performers have stepped into mentorship roles both on stage and behind the scenes.
“Many of the high school cast have embraced the mentorship role and have done an amazing job helping the elementary students navigate entrances and exits,” Sutton said.
That teamwork extends backstage as well, where students are assisting with makeup, costuming, and set changes. Student assistant directors Zaiden Johnson and Sophie Larson have dedicated extra time outside of rehearsals, including weekends, helping organize costumes and manage production details.
“They show up every day and are now backstage working out set changes,” Sutton said.
In addition to student leadership, a large production team of staff and volunteers continues to work behind the scenes to bring the ambitious show together.
“There is a very large production team behind the scenes bringing this show to life,” Sutton said. “All of the high school students are playing big roles, contributing in whatever way they can on and off stage.”
The result, Sutton said, is something audiences won’t want to miss.
“It will be memorable.”
The production marks the first full-scale musical held in the new Tea Area Performing Arts Center and features a large cast, pit orchestra, and technical crew working together to deliver a visually and musically rich performance.
With added special effects, student leadership, and a community-wide effort, this weekend’s performances promise to deliver a magical experience for audiences of all ages.
