This fall, I was able to be part of the cast of the Middle School Musical: The Wizard of Oz. It was a wonderful experience complete with singing, dancing, and acting. It took a lot of work to complete this performance, but after hours of dedication and work, we finally did it!
We worked on three main parts of our performance: the choreography with Mrs. Wanner on Tuesdays, the blocking with Mrs. Juge on Thursdays, and the music with Mrs. Rios on Fridays. Keep reading to get a behind-the-scenes look at what happened in the making of The Wizard of Oz Jr.
First up, choreography! This year it was decided to make the dances a bit harder than last year so with the help of Mrs. Nicholson they were made. The dancers were split into two groups, the Featured Dancers and the Ensemble. The ensemble worked hard to be both dancers and at times, part of the set. The Featured Dancers were given harder choreography and excelled at it. Ensemble member Marissa ‘31 tells us about her experience during the rehearsals. “They were all very positive the whole way and as an Ensemble person It was a lot of fun doing the dances together and acting together!!”
Next is blocking! For anyone who doesn’t know what that means, it’s basically acting. Our cast not only had to memorize lines, but they also had to know where to stand, what body language to portray, and to always react to what was happening! As an ensemble member, we were always in big groups, and we had to always show the audience the mood of the scene. This means to react very strongly with fear, and excitement, whatever the scene is meant to portray. Vanessa, a 7th grader, comments “I feel like everyone in every scene is such an important piece and the Wizard of Oz wouldn’t be the same without everyone. As Glinda, I feel like everyone is doing such a good job and in the scenes I am in I believe everyone does excellent. The munchkins, the gang, Dorothy; it all fits perfectly.” It’s true! Everyone’s part is very important, and The Wizard of Oz could not have happened without each and every one of its members.
Last but certainly not least of the three is music! Directed by Mrs. Rios, the songs of this vibrant musical come to life in room 18. With altos and sopranos, we sang harmonies and one of the most difficult was “The Jitterbug”. Taken out of the Wizard of Oz movie, this song is full of three-part harmonies, high notes, and complex choreography. It was decided that we include this song in the performance even though it was difficult. Mrs. Rios and Mrs. Wanner worked super hard with the cast to complete this number and it turned out wonderful. Other songs practiced were “Yellow Brick Road” and “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead!” After lots of tries, fails, and successes, we were able to finish each song with pitch perfect.
Overall, this was a wonderful experience and many members of the cast agree! Tess Martin (Dorothy) shares, “Wizard of Oz was a wonderful experience for me. I had the opportunity to meet people I wouldn’t have otherwise met and connect with those in other grades. The process of learning and completing the show was super fun and I think everyone had a great time during rehearsals. The choreography and blocking had the cast’s best interests in mind and it showed everyone’s talents in a unique way because everyone had at least one special part.” Catherine, an ensemble member agrees, “The Wizard of Oz, or any musical at Montrose, is truly extraordinary. I, as a sixth grader, am one of the younger students participating, and still, everyone welcomes me. All of the teachers work so hard to help this performance happen. It is simply remarkable to think that I am friends with all sorts of girls, some from every grade. During the musical, I befriended so many which has changed my experience at Montrose. Seeing them in the halls, exchanging greetings, it feels so good. Never doubt the power of theater, for it changes us all for the better. I can’t imagine a time not hanging out in Vinebrook, not singing my heart out onstage. When I look back on it, the experience feels surreal. I have learned more about myself and about others through this unbelievably breath-taking show. If you ever think about hopping into the cast or crew of a Monstrosian musical, you and your fellow Mavericks won’t regret it. You won’t.”
The Tech Crew was very helpful and their job is to move set pieces as the show is taking place. Ms. Fernandes led the students in painting the set which turned out wonderful! A special thanks to her and all of her hard work. Sarah Tea, a cast member, tells us, “Although you may not interact with her directly as an actor, Ms. Fernandes gives her all behind the scenes. In my opinion, she’s the one who keeps everything running smoothly. Without her dedication, kindness, and hard work, the show wouldn’t have been the success it was!”
The vibes during rehearsal were a huge part of what made the show possible. Fransisca Feeney, a 6th grader, tells us, “This whole experience has been wonderful! All the cast is always willing to help out in whatever they can and everyone always has such a positive attitude. Mrs. Wanner, Mrs. Juge, and Mrs. Rios are also always very welcoming and happy to help anybody. I can’t wait to see and be part of the show.” Mia Moeller, an 8th grader, also loves the positiveness of the cast during rehearsal. She shares, “I am rowboat man 1, Barrister, winged monkey, and featured dancer. This was a very very positive experience for me. Especially since this was my very first show and year at Montrose. This could not have been a better experience. It was so much fun and I got to meet so many new people. But, it couldn’t have been possible without our amazing director Mrs. Rios, our awesome choreographers Mrs. Wanner and Mrs. Nicholson, our fantastic blocking director Mrs. Juge, and our wonderful Tech coordinator, Ms. Fernandes. Thank you everyone for making me feel welcome in this cast.”
The Wizard of Oz has been truly a joy to be part of, and I cannot wait until next year to be part of the experience again. And maybe you’ll be there too!
By Gabri Ottaviani ‘30, Staff Writer
