By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Cassopolis Vigilant
CASSOPOLIS -- The spring musical at Ross Beatty Jr./Sr. High School will take you on a trip on the yellow brick road to "Oz." Seventy-two students will participate in the school's Thespian Troupe's performance opening Friday, April 23, with additional shows on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon.
In the musical, based on L. Frank Baum's classic, "The Wizard of Oz," Cassopolis Public Schools students from the 4-Rangers through seniors in high school are featured.
Senior Ruth Wright, who has performed in plays in Cassopolis since she was in third grade, will protray Dorothy.
Two newcomers to the Thespian Troupe, Dean Swithart and Ashill Hickman, will protray the Scarecrow and Cowardly Lion. The Tin Woodsman will be played by Nicholas Bosler, who is familiar to theatre goers on both the Cassopolis high school stage and also at the barn theatre on Hospital Road.
The younger students will be turned into munchkins, poppies, citizens of Oz and their favorite -- winged monkeys.
Director Martin Lukaszewski is exciting about the combination of ages and talents for this production. many will not be seen on the stage, but are contributing much to the production.
Rehersals have been segregated into small groups, with the munchkins practicing on Sunday evenings and the leads during the weekdays."
Each high school student in the production has been required to attend a Sunday night munchkin practice," Lukaszewski added. "They see the efforts of the young children and take it to heart. it's motivation for them to become better actors and this is already evident in our daily rehersals.
Performances at Ross Beatty High School are on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday at 4 p.m. Tickets are $4 for adults, $2 for students and seniors. Reserve tickets in advance by contacting Lukaszewski at 445-0135.