HHS puts on Wizard of Oz for its 75th anniversary

HHS+puts+on+Wizard+of+Oz+for+its+75th+anniversary

Evan Webster, Staff Writer

We’re off to see the Wizard, the wonderful 75th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz. The Howell High School performing arts is putting on the spectacular Wizard of Oz musical. The performances will be held over a course of four days in the Howell High School auditorium. With director Amanda Malo, who has been at the school since 2002 and has directed 20 plus productions, behind the reins of this production, the Livingston county community is in for a real treat.

“This is the classic story everyone will know and love, but with a few added twists to it,” Malo says.

Howell High School is proud to be putting on the fantastic Wizard of Oz musical during a very special year. 2014 marks the 75th anniversary of this musical. When picking the plays and musical for the school, it’s usually hard. Amanda Malo, along with Mr. Bushey, Mr. Smigell, Rebecca Gzym, and Becky Dilworth, who all help put on the musical, all decide on what the musical should be each year. This year it was an easy decision. Amanda Malo wanted to test her directing ability and to be able to prove that she could take on such a titan of a play such as The Wizard of Oz. This musical includes flying people in harnesses, a first time opportunity in Howell High School history.

“It’s the 75th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz, it was an easy decision, everyone agreed on it. I also needed something as a director that was challenging, and flying people in the show gave me that opportunity,” Malo says.

After deciding on the musical, Malo needed an amazing cast to go with it. After all the auditions, the lead of Dorothy was announced and senior Maggie Grace got the lead role. This should be no problem for a girl who was cast as the lead of the play last year. Since this is her last musical at Howell she is very excited, and is not nervous to go into this head first.

“This is by far the biggest and most iconic role I’ve ever been cast as, and its just an amazing way to go out with my senior year,” Grace says.

The cast and production crew may be excited but so are the students at Howell High School. Senior Sam Perkins, who is an advanced drama student, is also very excited to see the musical.

“I am ecstatic to see The Wizard of Oz and all the special effects that I’ve been hearing about around school,” Perkins says.

The musical will be held at the Howell High School auditorium and will be shown on four separate days instead of the usual three. Save the dates and time: the first three shows are Nov. 20-22 at 7 p.m. and the fourth showing is on Nov. 23 at 2 p.m.