It’s been a few years since Mona Wood Patterson and Charles Ford left their mark on a generation of thespians at Durango High School. Apparently, the draw of theater education is a powerful one, as their next theatrical production also will be an educational experience for all involved.
The husband-and-wife team have continued with theatrical productions under the auspices of Merely Players since their retirement from DHS, and next up is a May stage musical version of “The Wizard of Oz.” The cast will be a mix of adult and child actors, the latter of whom will receive a few months of intensive theatrical training from Wood Patterson, Ford, the crew and their cast mates.
“We’re looking for adult actors who will be good in the roles but will also lead by their work ethic and example,” Ford said. “The adults won’t have to participate in classes, but it’s so the young kids can see how the older people behave themselves, learn their lines, and so they can be polite and skillful within a large cast.”
The cast will consist of about 20 students and 15 adults.
The kids also will attend classes with musical director Ivy Walker and choreographer Shea Costa, as well as with Ford and his tech crew members. “The Wizard of Oz” will present a series of challenges to the talented Ford, who will have to construct sets for the many locales within the story. Equally challenging will be the makeup, costuming (which will be handled by JoAnn Nevils) and myriad special effects that add a magical quality to the story. None need fear the kinds of effects said to befall actors and crew in the many apocryphal stories about the 1939 film version. (Buddy Ebsen, for example, famously handed the role of the Scarecrow to Jack Haley after Ebsen suffered painful side effects from the metallic makeup.)
We use the same kind that body-painters use – it doesn’t dye the skin,” Ford said.
Auditions for “The Wizard of Oz” will be held in January and the show will open May 3 at the Durango Arts Center.
ted@durangoherald.com
‘Wizard of Oz’ auditions
Auditions for adults will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 14. Auditions for students (grades 4-12) will be held from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Jan. 15. They will be held at Durango Arts Center, 802 East Second Ave.
Roles available to students:
Dorothy, a teenager
Gloria, an Oz girl, a teenager (solos)
Munchkins, dancers, chorus roles
Roles available to adults:
The Scarecrow
The Tin Man
The Cowardly Lion
The Wicked Witch of the West
The Good Witch
The Wizard (Marc Arbeeny has been cast)
Auntie Em
Dancers, chorus roles
Adult and student actors auditioning will sing part of a song from the show. Some songs will be taught at the audition, or you may choose another one from the show. There will also be a cold reading/improv and a dance audition.
Rehearsals begin March 10 and show dates are May 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11. Rehearsals will be on select Mondays and Fridays, and they will begin between 3:30 and 6 p.m. for students and at 6 p.m. for adults. They will last up to three hours. A rehearsal schedule will be provided with specific times. There is no rehearsal during spring break, March 24-28.
Class fee for youth only:
The class fee for students is $250 for actors and $150 for techies, which includes all musical, dance and acting training in rehearsals, all technical elements (including costume), the performance experience, and two tickets to the show. There is no fee for adults. Instead, adults will be teaching children about theater through their role modeling and interaction.
Email Mona Wood-Patterson at mwp@frontier.net for more information.
