There's No Place Like the TheatreThe Wizard of Oz in Lake Charles for One More Performance

A girl named Dorothy stands surrounded by a bunch of small people and she look astounded as she is handed a giant cloud-like lollipop. As this happens, all of the small people start singing. Later, Dorothy is hungry and tries to pick some apples from some trees. They get upset and a scarecrow who has joined her journey insults them so that they start throwing apples and Dorothy is able to eat them. Once a lion joines Dorothy on her journey, he later whines about how somebody pulled his tail only to realize that he is the one who pulled his tail.

The Scarecrow insults the apple trees

If you haven't already guessed, these are scenes from The Wizard of Oz which was recently produced by Christian Youth Theatre in Lake Charles. There is no doubt that any of the actors that played the main characters - Dorothy, The Scarecrow, The Tin Man, and The Cowardly Lion - could easily go on to become professional actors.

Even the ensemble was extremely impressive with complicated dance moves that no ordinary person from off the street could perform. The adults (and maybe children) who built the set, made the costumes, and designed the lighting did a very impessive job, too.

If one remembers, I saw the Broadway tour of Waitress and while it was impressive, The Wizard of Oz was more impressive. Even more fun is the fact that the audience gets to mingle with the actors and actresses after the perfomance. It is less impersonal than seeing a Broadway or touring Broadway performance. Audience members get to mingle with people that they know and they also get to meet new people.

The main characters are played by Leslie Isreal (Dorothy Gale), Clay Corley (Zeke/Cowardly Lion), Jaylin Williams (Hickory Tinman), and Abram Connor (Hunk/Scarecrow). Other lead characters were played by Brynn Mayo (Aunt Em/Glinda the Good Witch of the North), Cole Becton (Uncle Henry/Emerald City Guard), Hunter Bectom (Miss Almira Gulch/The Wicked Witch of the West), Quaid Nichols (Professor Chester Marvel/The Wizard of Oz), Mila Alacatara (Wicked Witch of the East [Legs]), Ian Reeves (Munchkin Mayor), Briley Bryan (Mucnhkin Coroner), Gianna Lewis (Munchkin Barrister), Zoe Thrasher (Munchkin Fiddler), Kathryne Berken (Munchkin Braggart), Gabriella Barrios (Munchkin School Teacher), Dylan Freeman (Munchkin City Father/Winkie General), Rylee Menard (Munchkin 1), Natalie Lambert (Munchkin 2), Fisher Cooley (Nikko the Monkey Commander), and Zachary Benoit (Jitterbug Lead Dancer).

Actors and Actress in the lead ensembles were Ashre Gabre, Benjamin Gabrey, and Fisher Cooley (the Lollipop Guild), Addyson Miller, Kamila Vigo, and McKenzie Menard (the Lullaby League), Alana Fornet, Mila Alacantara, and Randilyn LeJeune (Trees), Cooper Self, Stuart Riviere, and Zachary Benoit (Crows), and Briley Bryan, Cole Becton, and Tristan Wainwright (Winkie Guards). Other ensembes in the play included the Ozian Ensemble (played by Mila Alacantara, Cole Becton, Zachary Benoit, Emilia Bernard, Blaire Buller, Fisher Cooley, Olivia Delano, CeeCee Doucet, Natalie Franks, Dylan Freeman, Olivia Foreman, Alana Fournet, Kellsie Jones, Karis Kane, Randilyn Lejeune, Gianna Lewis, Emma Marler, Blaire McManus, Emma Menard, Hannah Miller, Harleigh Miller, Bliss Nichols, Abigail Petterfer, Elizabeth Petterfer, Rachel Requelmy, Katherine Rion, Juliet Riviere, Mattie Schafer, Sophia thibodeaux, Zoe Thrasher, Kamila Vigo, and Tristian Wainwright), Poppies Ensemble (played by Cecilia Barrios, Finlee Boyett, Tucker Dunnehoo, Elliot Fuselier, Emma Juhala, Ava Lankford, Jolie Leubner, Austyn Manuel, Addyson Miller, Duff Nichols, Katherine Rion, and Amanda Sanders), Winkies Ensemble (played by Emmilia Bernard, Blaire Buller, CeeCee Doucet, Karis Kane, Rylee Menard, Rachael Requelmy, Juliet Riviere, and Kamila Vigo), the Monkeys (played by Gabriella Barrios, Katherthe Jyne Berken, Asher Gabre, Benjamin Gabre, Natalie Lambert, McKenzie Menard, Ian Reeves, Stuart Riviere, and Cooper Self), and the Jitterbug Ensemble (played by Mila Alacantara, Olivia Delano, Olivia Foreman, Alana Fontenot, Natalie Franks, Randilyn Lejeune, Kellsie Jones, Emma Marler, Blaire McManus, Emma Menard, Hannah Miller, Herleigh Miller, Bliss Nichols, Abilgail Petterfer, Elisabeth Petterfer, Mattie Schafer, and Sophia Thibodeaux).

Other production staff included Monique Reason (Director), Kane Todd (Assistant Director), Bryce Louviere (Musical Director), Jessica Broussard (Choreographer), Ashley Dickerson (Assistant to the Choreographer), Bevyn Taylor (Stage Manager), Noelie Puckett (Costumer), Jill Engel (Make Up), Mark LeBeau (Set Manager), Chelle Martin (Set Designer), McNeese Theatre Department (Sound and Lighting), Rebecca Sanders (Props Manager), Deborah LeBeau (Publlicity), Jill Engel Photography (Photography), Natalie Sell (Interim Artistic Director), Cherie Benoit (Managing Director), Brittany Menard (Show Coordinator).

The show is in Lake Charles for one more performance. Tickets are $15 and can be bought at The Christian Youth Theater Lake Charles Wizard of Oz site. The show is at 3pm on Sunday, October 27, 2019 and takes place in the Tritico Theatre on the McNeese State Campus at 4205 Ryan St. in Lake Charles, but it is actually on the corner of Sale and Ryan when locating the theatre.

Hairspray Jr. Is Not Something to Be Mist Play Takes Place Two More Times in Lake Charles

A bunch of students stand in a yard playing some sort of dodgeball game that has many balls and not just one. In the front for everybody to see, stand two girls. One is the popular and bossy girl, thin and seen as "perfect." The other is plump and the "perfect" girl does not like her, and especially hates when others like her. In the "perfect" girl's mind, nobody should like this girl. The "perfect" girl then hits the other girl in the face with a dodgeball, making her pass out and fall to the ground.

These two girls are Amber von Tussle and Tracy Turnblad, of Hairspray, Jr. Bayleigh Keating, who plays Amber von Tussle doesn''t miss a beat as the preppy, "perfect," brat that seems to think she deserves everything she wants. In each of her scenes, she commanded the stage. Her portrayal of Amber evoked the essence of Ashley Tisdale as Sharpay Evans in High School Musical.

Jared Bates also gave a stellar performance as Corny Collins. In this reviewers mind, he also would have made an excellent Link Larkin. While the other performers did great jobs, these two were the stand outs among a talented cast.

The rest of the cast included Laylah Bennett (Tracy Turnblad), Rhianna Hasenbein (Edna Turnblad), Katelyn Liz Bonette (Penny Pingleton), Whitney Chaumont (Velma von Tussle), Grayson Ashford (Link Larkin), Joshua Anderson (Seaweed J. Stubbs), Koyae Praylor (Little Inez Stubbs), Alonnie Celestine (Motormouth Maybelle), Maria Thibodeaux (Prudy Pingleton), Declan Hickey (Wilbur Turnblad), Helaina Savoie (Principal), Christopher Abraham (Mr. Pinky), Madison Ezell (Gym Teacher), Whitney Nguyen (Matron 1), Isablla Cooley (Matron 2), Madison Fullerton (Beatnik Chick), Grant Dulplichain (Male Guard), and Meghan Moor (News Caster).

The Council members and Councilettes were played by Tyler Thomas (Brad), Cagle Kaogh (Tammmy), Caden Hyde (Fender), Reagan Cotton (Brenda), Manuel Domingues (Sketch), Emma Juhala (Shelley), Zane Doucet (I.Q.), and Triity Arnold (Lou Anne). The Run and Tell that Teeens were played y Imani Poullard, Jacog Tatmon, Celise Landry, Dezarai Aleris, Caqleb Broussarrd, Jayla Guillory, McKenzie Matthews, Iman Poullard, Elijah Roberts, Dorien Smith, and Cheysh Young Mr. Pinky's staff was played by Naomi Ratcliff, Whitney Nguyen, and Grant Duplichain. The Dynamites were played by Alonzia Carlon (Judine), Jasmine Semien (Kamilah), and Jordyn Darone (Shayna). Ensemble members included Manuela Iervoililino, Madison Williams, Kinsey Vidrine, Ajah Moore, Shontenaisha Monuel, Jameszetta Henry, Courtney Crader, and Emma Babin.

The vocals for singing were not as up to par as one might expect, with wavering notes and sometimes off-pitch singing, but that was usually only at the beginning of a song and could easily be chalked up to first night jitters. All of the cast remembered blocking and choreography which was amazing being there was so much of it and these are high school students who are not in a class, but an after school drama club.

For this reviewer, it was a little disappointing that a male did not play the role of Edna Turnblad as is often traditional in productions of Hairspray, however, that is not required. The effort that went into the staging of the musical is obvious and community should definitely support these hard working teens.

Hairspray Jr. is in Lake Charles for two more performances. It is being performed by the Barbe Drama Club even though it takes place in the auditorium of the LaGrange High School auditorium. Tickets to see the play are $7 and can be bought at the door. The play runs for aobut and hour and half and there is no intermission.

You can see the play at the following times:

• Saturday, October 19, 2019 at 7pm
• Sunday, October 20, 2019 at 2pm

LaGrange High School is located at 3420 Louisiana Ave., Lake Charles, LA, 70607