Columbia Falls High School theater program reborn
Scarecrow (April West) explains to Dorothy (Noel Royer) what adventures they would have, if he only had a brain.
Glenda the Good Witch (Zerita McAtee) greets Dorothy in the Land of Oz.
Cowardly Lion (Jaydon Toftum) and Tinman (Gabriel Falzarano) share the stage.
Lollipop Guild members Jane Harris, Kensington Sunberg and Olivia Gonzales sing their parts. (Kate Dainels photo)
Dorothy (Noel Royer) and Good Witch Glenda (Zerita McAtee) sing along with the citizens of Munchkin Land. (Kate Daniels photo)
Dorothy (Noel Royer) receives instructions from Good Witch Glenda (Zerita McAtee) while surrounded by Munchkins. (Kate Daniels photo)
Noel Royer sings “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” in her role as Dorothy in Columbia Falls High School’s recent production of “The Wizard of Oz.” (Kate Daniels photos)
Noel Royer sings “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” in her role as Dorothy in Columbia Falls High School’s recent production of “The Wizard of Oz.” (Kate Daniels photo)
Dorothy (Noel Royer) and Scarecrow (April West) inspect the Cowardly Lion’s (Jaydon Toftum) newly received medal of courage. (Kate Daniels photo)
The Wizard of Oz (Grace Cincis) takes the stage. (Kate Daniels photo)
The Wicked Witch of the West (Katie Triplett) explains her villainous plans for Dorothy (Noel Royer). (Kate Daniels photo)
The Scarecrow (April West), Tinman (Gabriel Falzarano) and Cowardly Lion (Jaydon Toftum) discuss ways to save Dorothy during Columbia Falls High School’s recent production of “The Wizard of Oz.” (Kate Daniels photo)
After years in decline, the theater program at Columbia Falls High School is making a strong comeback.
The school had not put together a major theater production since 2014 before directors Joel and Hannah Landis decided to revive the school’s drama program with their recent production of musical version of L. Frank Baum’s “The Wizard of Oz.” With more than 30 high school actors and more than two dozen elementary students in roles as various Munchkins, the musical delighted the packed Little Theater for four performances in early March.
While the show was a resounding success, Joel and Hannah admit there were times they had their doubts about being able to make it happen. The siblings rekindled the Columbia Falls High School Drama Club in the fall with just seven students and were not sure what to expect when auditions for “The Wizard of Oz” were held in mid-December.
“We had an informational meeting before the auditions and I told Joel that I was afraid nobody was going to show up,” Hannah said. “Then we walked in and there were more than 25 people there.”
“With every show you do, there is always a point where you are biting your nails a little bit and wondering if it is all going to come together,” Joel added. “These kids really stepped up and it all came together nicely.”
The pair said they knew all along they wanted to work with Choir Director Emily Hackethorn to put together a musical and when they came across “The Wizard of Oz,” they knew they had found the right one.
“We call musicals the ‘triple threat.’ You get acting, singing and dancing. That’s something you just don’t get with normal plays. We love plays, but we love musicals more because they give the actors more of a chance to showcase their skill,” Joel said. “‘The Wizard of Oz’ is one of the easier musicals to tackle because the songs are not very difficult and it is very recognizable.”
“If it had been something else that nobody had every heard of, we probably wouldn’t have had as many people in the seats and the kids would not have been as excited as they were,” Hannah added.
For Hackethorn, the musical was an exciting new way to let her students show off their skills.
“We have a lot of talent in our choir program here, and in our music program in general. It was nice to have another way for the kids to be able to showcase their amazing talents,” she said. “It seemed that many of the actors we had in the main roles just had personalities that really fit their characters. We had several that were basically perfect for the roles they were cast in.”
Hackethorn, who was also in charge of the Munchkin actors, said it was important to get the next generation of actors excited about theater at a young age.
“It was key to have the Munchkins be actual children,” she said. “It added another element to the show with a lot of energy. I don’t think having high schoolers in those roles would have had the same effect.”
From Noel Royer’s rendition of “Somewhere over the Rainbow” as Dorothy, to the singing talents of Jaydon Toftum’s Cowardly Lion and Katie Triplett’s evil cackle as the Wicked Witch of the West, the production was one that is sure to be remembered for some time in Columbia Falls.
“Our last performance was not ever over yet and the kids were already talking about what they want to do with the next production,” Joel said. “The response has been overwhelmingly positive from both the students and the faculty, as well as the public. We are elated and a bit blown away.”
While the directors have not decided what will be coming next from the Columbia Falls Theater Program, they agree they would like to do another musical. Whatever their next production may be, the Landis siblings are just happy to be giving back to the community.
“I’m sure the school was desperate and just ready to hire anyone when they brought us on board, so I hope they are happy with the way it turned out,” Joel said with a laugh. “We really just wanted to serve the community. There was a need and we felt very strongly that it needed to be filled. We wanted to share the love of theater that was fostered in us by our mentors and to foster that same love in the students of Columbia Falls.”
Reporter Jeremy Weber may be reached at 758-4446 or jweber@dailyinterlake.com.