The Woodward News

Local News

October 4, 2012

Auditions scheduled for "Wizard of Oz"

Chris Cooper Woodward News

Woodward, Okla. — The nonprofit group OnStage Woodward will be holding auditions over the next couple of weeks for their upcoming musical play of "The Wizard of Oz."

Auditions for parts will be held Oct. 8, Oct 10-11, and Oct 15-17. Audtions will be held at 7 p.m. each evening at the Woodward Arts Theater.

"Roles are available for all the characters you know and love: Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tinman, even flying monkies," said Kenton Baird, who is an OnStage board member and director of the play.

Ages 10 and up are invited to come audition.  There is no need to sign up in advance for audition time, just stop by the theater on any of the audition dates.

"It will be a musical, so those auditioning could come prepared with an acapella song, ready to sing, and be prepared to read for a part we will provide them," Baird  said.

Those who audition should also be prepared to invest some rehearsal time if selected for the play, which is slated for performances in April 2013.

Rehearsals will begin in January and last 4 months, Baird said. Initially rehearsals will take place 1 to 3 times a week, but towards the end main roles could expect to rehearse a few times a night in the week before debut, he said.

"Its a big commitment, but it'll pay off," he said.



'A HUGE PRODUCTION'

"We chose 'The Wizard of Oz' because everyone knows it, everyone has a memory of it, so we think it will touch a lot of people," Baird said.

He said OnStage Woodward is hoping to make this performance of the play just as memorable as the movie.

"We want to do it like its never been done before," he said.

"'The Wizard of Oz' has never been done before in Woodward, not to our knowledge at least, so we plan to do it big," Baird said.  "We're gonna make it a huge production, have a big cast of around 50 people, and elaborate sets."

And with such high ambitions the OnStage Woodward organization will need help. Thats why the group is calling for volunteers to help put on the production.

"We're looking for volunteers to help with stage building, set design, and fundraising," Baird said.  "But the main thing is we're looking for people who are interested in theater and are looking for a way to get involved in it."

The play is set to debut in April, so there is still plenty of time to get involved.

Any questions concerning auditions or volunteering can be directed to Kenton Baird at (580) 216-2413.

You can also contact Baird if you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to OnStage Woodward to help finance the upcoming production of "The Wizard of Oz."  Contributions may also be made out to Onstage Woodward and mailed to 822-B Main Street in Woodward.

Baird said the upcoming play is a continuation of more than 40 years of public service that OnStage Woodward has provided by offering community entertainment in the form of dinner theaters, musicals and stage plays.

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