Gianna Capen will lead the cast at the May 1 performance
Jolie Edmonds will lead the cast at the May 2 performance
Photos: Megan Edmonds Photography
The Sanford Middle School Theatre Troupe is proud to present The Wizard of Oz Youth Edition at the Sanford Performing Arts Center on Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2.
The one-hour adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s classic has become more relevant with the national attention surrounding Wicked. A tale of friendship and finding yourself, it includes all the classic songs that generations have loved. It’s adapted to fit the middle school performer, both vocally and in terms of content.
“Many of the performers you will see are brand new to the stage, pushing themselves out of their comfort zones,” said director Adam Bellefeuille. “The youth edition and junior formats allow for exactly that.”
Featuring a middle school student cast, supported by a dedicated stage crew, this show is notable for another reason. Bellefeuille and the casting team had a dilemma on their hands during the casting process that led to a unique decision. “We quickly realized that the sheer number of performers we were seeing and with level of talent they were bringing to the table, we would need to come up with a way to increase the size of the cast.” The result was the creation of two different casts to allow the maximum number of students to shine through the production-the first time in Bellefeuille’s nearly twenty years of directing and assisting with shows in Sanford.
Shows will be held on Friday, May 1, featuring our “For Good Cast,” headlined by 6th Grader Gianna Capen as Dorothy. The Saturday, May 2, performance will close the weekend with the “Defying Gravity Cast,” featuring 5th grader Jolie Edmonds as Dorothy. Additional roles that are double cast include the Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion, Glinda, and of course, the Wicked Witch of the West. Students who are double cast are also included in various scenes at the opposite show along with a large ensemble of performers.
“Each year, I am always awed and inspired by the intelligence, the heart and the courage that our students put into their show, Bellefeuille said.
Online ticketing is available 24/7 at sanfordpac.org The SPAC ticket office is open for in-person sales Tuesday and Thursday from 9 am-noon, and one hour before every performance.
If purchasing tickets is cost-prohibitive for your family, please contact abellefeuille@sanford.org for assistance.
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