Almost 30 youth in HAWK Theatre production of "The Wizard of Oz"

HAWK Theatre has taken on an ambitious production, "The Wizard of Oz," which features almost 30 youth and opens Thursday, Dec. 1, at 7:30 p.m., at the Lucknow Town Hall Theatre.

Directed by Mackenzie Carruthers, with assistant director Nikki Marion-McMahon, 14, of Amberley, the show is very familiar, heart-warming and full of wonderful songs, performed with gusto by this enthusiastic cast.

While Nikki has performed on stage several times with HAWK Theatre, this is her first time as assistant director, and she is finding it stressful but a great experience.

"I totally understand how the director feels, trying to co-ordinate 27 kids on stage," she said. "I like being able to help the kids out because I've been on stage and I can guide them in what to do and how things work."

The Grade 9 student at Goderich District Collegiate Institute (GDCI) said the hardest part of the job is rehearsing the play over and over and making sure the actors are where they should be at the right time. She is also doing the job of stage manager.

Nikki said she prefers performing on stage to working behind the scenes.

Three of the youth are new to HAWK Theatre: Conor Greenwood who plays Hickory and the Tin Man; Treyton Stanley who plays the Wizard of Oz, a Barrister, a Munchkin, and Professor Marvel; and Samantha Moon who plays Glinda the Good Witch and an Ozian.

Connor, 13, is a Grade 8 student at Ripley-Huron Community School. He tried out for the role of the Tin Man because "I'm a sentimental guy," he said, and because he knows Carruthers from the summer drama camp.

"It's a lot of fun on stage," he said, "and these are great people to work with."

The hardest part, he joked, is getting along with Carruthers - ha, ha. "It's a big cast and it's sometimes difficult to know what's going on, when there are so many people on stage." The best part is hanging out with the cast, he said.

Besides school and theatre, Connor enjoys playing volleyball, basketball, baseball and soccer, as well as the school band, and he likes to play piano and sing.

Treyton, 11, is in Grade 6 at Brookside Public School, south of Lucknow. He tried out for the play because all his friends thought he should since he has a loud voice and likes to act.

"I think it's cool being on stage," he said, "because you get to dress up in all these crazy costumes." The hardest part, he said, is keeping your body turned toward the person you're talking to, and not have your back to the audience.

The best part is getting to use his loud voice inside. "Any other time, I'd be in trouble," he said.

In his spare time, Treyton likes playing outside with his sister, Quinlyn, 8, and brother, Easton, almost 14. He also enjoys playing hockey and baseball, as well as volleyball and soccer at school.

Samantha, 12, is a Grade 8 student at GDCI. She has been on stage in Goderich but this is her first time with HAWK Theatre.

Her friends urged her to try out and she got the part of Glinda, the Good Witch. "it's a lot of fun and the people are really nice," she said.

The hardest part, she said, is learning a lot of tricky lines and making the trip from Goderich for rehearsals. The best part is getting to be in the play with so many amazing people.

In her spare time, Samantha is rehearsing another play at school and she enjoys playing broomball.

This production is the Young Performers' Edition of the classic story, "The Wizard of Oz," by Frank L. Baum. The play tells the tale of Dorothy, a farm girl from Kansas, who travels over the rainbow to discover the magical power of home.

The attractive set, designed by local talent Ruth Montgomery, transports the audience to the land of Oz, with Toto, the Lion, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, Glinda the Good Witch, the Wicked Witch of the West, the Wizard, plus a few Munchkins and Flying Monkeys!

Jaden Symes plays Dorothy, while Elle Schumacker is Toto, Claire Howard is Hunk and the Scarecrow, Drayton MacKenzie is Miss Gulch and the Wicked Witch of the West, Graham Howard is Zeke and the Lion, Madison Ritchie is Auntie Em, and Ronnie Sutton is Uncle Henry.

The remainder of the cast includes Lachlan and Ever Chow, Ally Wilson, Kierstynn Proctor, Massey Shular, Faith Conley, Mikaela Sutton, Amber McPherson, Riley Ritchie, Nicole Davey Quinlyn Stanley, Felicity Dobson, Delia Murphy, Danee and Charlee Marsh, and Samantha Bullock.

The show, produced by Maureen Matchett, runs Dec. 1, 2 and 3 at 7:30 p.m., and Dec. 4 at 2:30 p.m., at the Lucknow Town Hall Theatre.

Tickets are $15 each for adults, and $5 each for children under the age of 12; available at Everlastings Flowers and Gifts in Lucknow, Jerome Flowers in Kincardine, Mayfair Training in Lucknow, the Lucknow Public Library, Ripley Variety in Ripley, Earth Angel in Wingham or by calling Donald at 519-528-3019.

The theatre has an elevator available for those with mobility concerns.



The cast rehearses HAWK Theatre's production of "The Wizard of Oz"