TO OZ! FACC PRESENTING CLASSIC THURSDAY NIGHT
A cast of nearly 50 and a production team of nine will take audiences from Kansas to Munchkinland and onto the Emerald City Thursday night, June 19 when the Freeman Area Children’s Choir presents “The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition” on the Pioneer Hall stage. Tickets may be purchased at the door; doors open at 6 p.m. with a 6:30 p.m. curtain.
The production will bring to close a two-week musical theater camp at Pioneer Hall that has been part of the FACC programming since the children’s choir was brought back by directors Amber Bradley and Iwona Lewter in the summer of 2022. The FACC also presents a winter concert in December.
This year’s camp included students in grades 4-12 from the Freeman, Marion, Menno, Scotland, Montrose and Sioux Falls areas.
Bradley serves as music director and Lewter as artistic director for “Wizard,” with Rebecca Hofer serving as technical director. The production team also includes Katie Janssen and Kara Polasky as choreographers, Darrel Fickbohm on set construction, Seth Balzer on lighting, Solomon Ortman as stage manager and Nathan Schrag as sound designer.
Those with named parts are as follows:
Dorothy – Mari Chlebeck VanLeur
Aunt Em – Abigail Bradley
Uncle Henry – Emmit Ortman
Hunk/Scarecrow – Charli Fickbohm
Zeke/Lion – Jax Kaufman
Hickory/Tin Man – Christian Ortman
Miss Gulch/Wicked Witch – Ally Bittner
Toto – Sarah Bradley
Professor Marvel/Wizard – Solomon Ortman
Doorman – Harli Ross
Guard – Nicolle Wrobleski
Glinda – Moriah Deckert
Nikko – Harli Ross
Winkie Leader – Kallie Johnson
Lady in Rocking Chair – Chloe Kelly
Rowboat Persons – Adelyn Aschemeier, Noelle Friesen
Cow – Brynlee Hofer
Munchkin 1 – McKoen Dockendorf
Munchkin 2 – Kaelyn Ortman
Mayor of Munchkinland – Alyssa Hofer
Barrister – Adaline Graber
City Elders – Elise Waltner, Tana Stuelpnagel
Coroner – Elliana McCormick
Three Tots – Brielle McCormick, Natalya McCormick, Kimry Juhnke
Three Tough Kids – Simon Ortman, Jordan Bradley, Christian Kelly
Munchkin Woman – Emily Witt
Crows – Bonnie Kleinsasser, Sloane Rokusek, Trevor Paff, Kassidie Johnson, Kyra Stuelpnagel
Apple Trees – Hannah Bradley, Ella Lewter, Arianne Fink, Raelynn Taylor, Kallie Johnson, Christian Kelly, Chloe Kelly, Jordan Bradley
Optimistic Voices – Kenzy Penner, Addison Waltner, Abigail Bradley
Cat – Katelyn Anderson
Oz Woman – Jessica Scheetz.
Members of the FACC also make up a company that includes Jitterbugs, Jitterbug Trees, Winged Monkeys, Winkie Guards, Ozians, Munchkins and the Yellow Brick Road.
