Many people will follow the Yellow Brick Road into a night of nostalgia, fun and whimsy, but for the seniors, this will be one of their last stops before they leave Munchkinland and set off on their journey to Oz.
The theatre company’s opening night for their Fall musical “The Wizard of Oz” will open 6:30 p.m. Nov. 1. The doors will open Nov. 2 and Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. and Nov. 8 at 6:30 p.m.
“People should come see the show for several reasons,” theatre director Greta Peterson said. “Nostalgia with growing up seeing the movie, interactive features that will involve the audience, bidding on great auction items, and most of all, just being a part of something special that the students of Lampasas Theatre have created.”
Tickets to Gala night are presale only and cost $15-$20. Every other night is $5 general admission at the door and teachers can get in free with their badge.
“Gala tickets are specialty tickets that are sold by the students,” Peterson said. “We are very limited on sales.”
Gala night will be different compared to years past as people will receive more bang for their buck.
“Gala night promises to be bigger and better than in the past,” Peterson said. “We have added a potato bar and silent auction! As usual, we will have gift bags, colored programs that highlight our seniors and specialty tables set up with extra items that pertain to the show. It will be a fun evening!”
The show will be interactive for the audience including bubbles, falling leaves, fake snow and little apples.
“I’m most excited about the interactive features that we will be incorporating,” Peterson said. “A lot of the Broadway shows involve the audience and so will we! There is a tornado scene that involves leaves and actors running through the audience. Another scene that has apple trees throwing apples and much more. Just a fun show with a lot of movie history.”
The technical aspects of the show are more advanced than previous shows from fog machines to LED clouds and specialty lighting.
“I’m excited for all of the impressive technical work that has gone into it, including the set and special effects,” Wizard of Oz, played by senior Cale Wheeler said. “I think it’ll really capture the wonder and whimsical nature of the land of Oz.”
Some of the seniors have been a part of the company since they began high school, and even before.
“It’s crazy to think that this is my last musical because I’ve been in so many,” Wheeler said. “I was one of the little kids in Willy Wonka, which was the first musical that Mrs. Peterson did here. It’s crazy that it’s all coming to an end.”
The show is open to all to come and watch and support the Lampasas Theatre Company.
“The Wizard of Oz is definitely a classic in media and musicals, so I’m excited to perform it and have all ages be able to enjoy it,” Dorothy, played by senior Samantha Sturgeon said. “Every character is relatable to someone, whether you’re shy like Lion, emotional like Tinman, smart like Scarecrow, or brave like Dorothy. I hope that our show inspires the audience to go and watch the original movie and our play again and again.”
