They're off to see the Wizard

--- Whitewater High School's The Wizard of Oz is Nov. 8-10

Donna Lenz Wright/The Week

(Published Nov. 5, 2007, 2:44 p.m.)

You won't believe you're at a live show when Whitewater High School's The Wizard of Oz begins in black and white and turns to color as Dorothy awakes in Oz right before your eyes Nov. 8-10 at the Whitewater High School auditorium.

Tons of special effects and a huge cast--over 100--has made this fall's production a blast for all involved and is sure to spread to the audience.

The Wizard of Oz, written by L. Frank Baum (novel) and Noel Langle (screenplay) and first aired on television in 1939, has been nominated for 14 major awards and won six, including two Oscars, according to IMDb, and remains a cult classic.

"It's so similar to the movie that both kids and adults will love being able to see the characters in person," said Adam Triebold (Tinman).

Whitewater High's rendition closely follows the movie version. The huge cast includes students and staff from every Whitewater school.

"Our high school cast, high school (staff) and middle school staff members will appear as members of the Lullabye League and the Lollipop Guild," said Anne Kuske, director. "And fifth graders from all three elementary schools will join the entire cast for 'Follow the Yellow Brick Road.'"

But the special effects are the most popular for the cast.

"This show is full of all sorts of special effects that will blow everybody away," said Amber Elizabeth Wiest (Wicked Witch). "I get a bunch of awesome effects that I'll be sad to give up, but my favorite effect is when I get to throw fire."

"Amber is going to scare the pants out of everyone," said Anna Talpe (Dorothy). "And WHS gymnasts are going to play the monkeys."

Costumes, sets, lights, smoke and even Toto (played by the Kuske family dog)--everything's ready for a weekend of great performances.

"The whole cast is in love with the show; we are all ready to give the show of a lifetime," Wiest says.

"The Wizard of Oz" runs Nov. 8-10 at 7:30 p.m. with a special one-hour performance for young children Nov. 10 at 5 p.m. at the Whitewater High School auditorium. Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for senior citizens, $3 for students (ages 6-18) and children 5 and under are free. For more information, call 472-8178.

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Dorothy-Anna Talpe 

Uncle Henry-Alex Loofboro  

Auntie Em-Natalie Tisdale  

Hunk/Scarecrow-Jake Cortes 

Hickory/Tinman-Adam Triebold 

Zeke/Lion-Adam Taylor 

Miss Gultch/ Wicked Witch-Amber Wiest 

Glinda, the Good Witch-Lindsay

Van Norman  Professor/Oz-C.J. Nelson  

The Braggart-Stephanie Zutz 

Munchkins-Duo Kathryn Letellier, Jennifer Paulson, Roxanne MacDonald, Emily Ganser, Amelia Bertozzi-Villa, Beth Ide, Kristi Goodman, Noelle Werner and Carly Bade 

Trees-Kristyn Kachel, Rebecca Morgan-Markham, Bryce Wilson, Beth Ide and Emma Zaballos 

Guard-Kate Grady 

Emerald City groomers-Emily Ziebarth, Morgan Scharine, Amelia Bertozzi-Villa, Elizabeth  McComb, Terri Williams, Emma Zaballos, Rebecca Morgan-Markham, Bryce Wilson, Kathryn  Letellier, Noelle Werner, Beth Ide, Roxanne MacDonald, Carly Bade, Stephanie Zutz, Kristi  Goodman, Jennifer Paulson, Emily Ganser and Kristyn Kachel 

Winkies-Amelia Bertozzi-Villa, Roxanne MacDonald, Emma Zaballos, Jennifer Paulson, Emily Ganser and Kathryn  Letellier  Jitterbug Dancers-Terri Williams and Elizabeth McComb

Pit Band-Nikki Nehlen, Noelle Werner, Kristin Lemke, Cortney Chene, Nicki Tautges, Chris Lamsam, David Mayer, Skylar Gable-Eissens, Connor Mulcahy, Robert Willey-Deal, Laura Kaspar, Angela McKenzie, Rachel Scott and David Williams

Backstage/set construction crew-Jameson Harmon, Nick Farley, Daniel Hansen, Jon Shepherd, Madeline Walton, Andrew Weston, Katt Williams, Crystal Varelis, Chelsea Haney, Ryan Perkins, Alex Hafferkamp 

Directors-Lane and Anne Kuske 

Music director-Lori Heidenreich 

Stage manager:-Bailey Alexander 

Lights-Brian Halbach and Amanda Hohf 

Sound-Ryan Perkins

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