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.