By Larry Sacks

 

Starting Arts just finished their theatrical production of The Wizard of Oz at the Center for Performing Arts at Santa Clara High School.  The production ran from July 17 until July 19 with a mere four shows so I felt extremely lucky to be able to catch the opening night performance.

 

Being a Wizard of Oz aficionado, this was practically a dream-job come true.  Starting Arts is doing something very right and very good as their production featured two casts with the leading roles played by two different groups of very talented young actors.  Since photography was not allowed at the actual shows, I visited the dress rehearsal of Cast B and then saw Cast A perform.

 

The curtain opened onto Kansas and my heart quickened at what was about to unfold.  With a cast made up almost entirely of students (the role of Nikko, the Commander of the Monkeys was played by Alan Grover, a 4^th grade teacher at Pomeroy Elementary School), I didn’t know if I’d be in for a great show or a struggle to stay awake.  Having seen 30 minutes of Cast B’s performance earlier in the afternoon, I hoped it would be the former.  Admittedly, upon realizing it wasn’t Cast B but rather Cast A on stage, trepidation crept into my thoughts as Cast B had been amazingly good.  During the time I was there to watch Cast B, I went along for the journey with Dorothy (Gina Filangeri), Scarecrow (Megan Brown), Tinman (Elijah Richardson) and the Cowardly Lion (Toron Herring) as they encountered Nikko, the Wicked Witch of the West (Faith Ibok), residents of Oz and Munchkinland, Crows, Winkies and Lullaby League members far too numerous to mention that was both memorable and enjoyable. 

 

Was it possible Cast A could be as good? 

 

From the moment Cast A’s Dorothy, played by Christina Lea, sang the first line in Somewhere Over the Rainbow, I knew this was going to be good.  Closing my eyes to take in her voice, I swore it wasn’t Christina on stage, but rather Judy Garland.  From that moment on, I was in for a treat and seeing the same events unfold I had seen only hours earlier; I was mesmerized by the performers.  This time, my tour guides were Dorothy (Christina Lea), Scarecrow (Michelle Watts), Tinman (Laurel Ross) and the Cowardly Lion (Addie Gingold).  My only disappointment was not being able to see Cast B’s Glinda, the Good Witch of the North perform during the earlier rehearsal as Cast A’s Glinda (Keely Wirtz) had me sold on her magical abilities.  One added treat was the work of Las Vegas based Fly By Foy who allowed Glinda, the Wicked Witch of the North, Dorothy and some Flying Monkeys to soar across the stage. 

 

The entire production consisted of a combined 80 hours of rehearsals held over a mere four weeks.  Full dress rehearsals in the Center for Performing Arts began only a few days before opening night. 

 

Given the professionalism of the actors and their age range, Starting Arts is on the right path down the yellow-brick road.

 

Starting Arts is a non-profit organization whose mission is to “…promote arts education in public schools”. For more information about, Starting Arts, please visit their website www.startingarts.com.