The Black Maskers put on an exceptional show this fall. On the nights of November 15, 16, 22 and 23, the RM community lined up to see “The Wizard of Oz,” selling out seats for the first time ever on the third show night and breaking a record for the club. 

“The Wizard of Oz” is a timeless classic, following the story of a young girl named Dorothy (Eliza Petrova) and her dog, Toto (Essie). Swept away from their home by a tornado, they end up in the magical land of Oz. There, they meet Glinda (Lilliana Katz-Hollander), the Good Witch of the East. She advises Dorothy to find the Wizard of Oz (Evie Hall), who is sure to send her and Toto back home. On their journey, Dorothy and Toto meet The Tin Man (Noah Lecheb), Scarecrow (Cory Breychak) and Lion (Quinn Creel), who are each in need of something only the Wizard can give them. Dorothy defeats the Wicked Witch of the West (Helena Checcucci) and the five of them are granted their wishes by the Wizard of Oz. 

Behind the production’s success is an incredibly talented and enthusiastic cast who were willing to push through challenges such as complicated choreography and numerous costume/makeup quick-changes.  

 “I think the costumes were pretty difficult to move in, [and] getting used to performing the choreography in them took some time. It was hard, but we got there in time for the show,” junior and actor Cory Breychak said.

Of course, the show couldn’t have happened without time and dedication from each of the Black Maskers’ crews. Like any other musical, “The Wizard of Oz” required meticulous planning, lengthy practice and often last minute problem-solving skills from all backstage members. Behind the scenes were struggles with falling microphones, complex set construction, and missing costumes. One challenge faced by the Black Maskers’ set construction crew was figuring out how to build a giant rainbow for the set. 

“The rainbow was definitely difficult because it involved a lot of math and creative problem solving to make it stable. We chose to use LED lights because we could change colors easily, making it useful for a variety of scenes,” senior and set construction co-chief Sarah Howlett said. 

This production was especially unique for Black Maskers, as it featured young actors and actresses from nearby elementary schools.  The show’s outstanding turnout is also attributable to their passionate performances. Naturally, the presence of young kids required responsible caretakers as well:

“I really liked working with the kids, it was super fun. It was tough to get them on stage at times, but by showtime we figured it out! They made the show really fun and they added a lot. I’m glad I decided to be a kid-wrangler,” junior Charlotte Cornman said. 

Many applaud Black Maskers’ sponsor and director Emily Davis for the timely decision to put on “The Wizard of Oz” during the release of “Wicked”, the recent movie adaptation of the musical. Some have attributed the coinciding dates as a factor to explain the overflowing audiences. Nevertheless, Black Maskers is proud to have put on such a widely enjoyed production this fall. 

“This is the first time we’ve ever sold out a show. We had people coming back to see it more than once and little kids asking for autographs- It’s really great to know that people loved it as much as they did,” senior and Board member Lilliana Katz-Hollander said.