Mater Dei High School in Breese presents the musical, "The Wizard of Oz," this weekend, beginning Friday, April 10. Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Students at Mater Dei High School in Breese will bring a beloved classic to life this weekend as they present the musical, "The Wizard of Oz."
The production opens Friday, April 10, and continues through Sunday, offering audiences a chance to “follow the yellow brick road” with Dorothy and her friends.
Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, April 10, and Saturday, April 11, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 12. All shows will take place at the high school.
General admission tickets will be available at the door, with adult tickets priced at $6 and student tickets at $4.
Admission is free for Mater Dei students and Knight Club members, encouraging strong support from the school community.
The musical is based on the iconic 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz," which itself was adapted from "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum. This stage version features a script adapted by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jeremy Sams.
Audiences can expect to hear the film’s timeless songs by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg, along with additional music by Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice.
When a tornado rips through Kansas, Dorothy and her dog, Toto, are whisked away in their house to the magical land of Oz.
They follow the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City in hopes of meeting the Wizard. Along the way, they encounter a Scarecrow in need of a brain, a Tin Man missing a heart, and a Cowardly Lion searching for courage.
The wizard asks the group to bring him the broom of the Wicked Witch of the West in exchange for his help.
"The Wizard of Oz" remains one of the most enduring stories in American culture, and this student-led production continues a long tradition of stage adaptations, including earlier versions by the St. Louis Municipal Opera and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Community members are encouraged to attend and support the talented cast and crew as they bring this magical journey from Kansas to Oz to the stage.
The cast includes: Kaitlyn Kienlen as Dorothy; Izzy Tripp as Glinda; Ashley Ratermann as the Wicked Witch of the West/Mrs. Gulch; Sylvia Heiligenstein as the Scarecrow; Olivia Kunz as the Tin Man; Deidre Morales-Rios as the Cowardly Lion; Brianna Hemker as Aunt Em; Dawson Detmer as Uncle Henry/Guard; Oliver Varel as Professor Marvel/The Wizard; Parker Knuf as the Mayor of Munchkinland/Hunk; Daniel Ratermann as Zeke; Cameron Evans as Hickory; and Cora Loddeke as Toto.
Theensemble includes Finlay Ratermann, Milah Diekemper and Kami Varel.
The Munchkin and Ozian chorus includes grade school performers Carson Loddeke, Emma McSparin, Sofia Tripp, Ryan Kienlen, Eva Pakosta, Luke Rinella, Kate Richter, Danielle Richter, Hailey Richter, Savannah Eilermann, Gwen Schulte, Julie Connelly, Taylor Connelly, Tatym Diekemper and Haven Diekemper.
