Welcome to the second show of our Season of Hope and Homecoming! We are so honored that you’ve chosen to join us on our journey as we explore stories that are inspired by the lessons we learn when we venture out into the world and the feeling of hope when we return back home again. From Alice’s riverbank in London to Dorothy’s farmhouse in Kansas these tales of lost childhood innocence and unquenchable curiosity have found their way into popular culture and the hearts of people all over the world and we are thrilled to be presenting our uniquely Hillsboro Players' take on these classic stories.
Our production of L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is adapted from and features the score of the MGM classic film, but with a new vision for the future. This beloved tale, in which a Kansas farm girl travels over the rainbow to discover the magical power of home, has entertained audiences for generations but tonight you’ll be experiencing this classic story with a modern perspective. Because of the success of 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz is incredibly definitive. Images of ruby slippers, green witches, and blue gingham dresses fill our mind when we think of this story. However, when I was conceptualizing our production, I wanted to find a deeper understanding of what made Baum's original story an important fixture in children's literature and pop culture.
In the forward of his novel, Baum states, "“The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” was written solely to please children of today. It aspires to being a modernized fairy tale, in which the wonderment and joy are retained and the heartaches and nightmares are left out.” With his posthumous permission, I have placed our production squarely in the 21st century. Leaning into the original intent of the novel, yet underscored by the music of the MGM movie, our production pays homage to the past while providing a perspective for the future. Heavily influenced by the theoretical work of Henry Littlefield, a history teacher that claimed “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” was an allegorical tale about the Gilded Era of the early 1900s, our production highlights the parallels seen in today’s “gilded” world. In this vain, you were given green lensed glasses (a trope from the novel) to wear when our characters arrive at the Emerald City, which has been conceptualized to represent the place where technology and celebrity collide— two billionaire creating industries in our society. In comparison, Munchkinland represents an ethos of equality, where inclusion is the norm and gender stereotypes are a thing of the past. In our production we give concentrated power to Dorothy and her relationships with Aunt Em/Glinda and Miss Gulch/West Witch. Baum and his wife, Maud, were staunch advocates for women’s rights and intended for Dorothy to be portrayed as a strong, independent girl who is trying to come into her own throughout the story. This mark was missed during the MGM movie, a byproduct of the male-centric society in 1939. However, Dorothy is resilient, knows what she wants, and will do anything she has to to get it-- qualities that we aspire to instill in young women today. In our production, Dorothy is a heroine and celebrated for her bravery and determination! These elements inspired my direction and drove the creative components, and I hope that no matter how many times you’ve enjoyed this story, that our production immerses you in a new, refreshed experience! If you are interested in learning more about the creative process for this production, consider joining us for a talk back following Sunday's matinee production.
I am so proud of the students’ work on this production. The cast and crew have endured a lot during the pandemic and many of them are just getting back into doing theatre or are doing it for the first time. They have worked very hard to bring this classic musical to life in a new and vibrant way, taking on the challenge of our new vision with fervor and passion. I am honored to take you over the rainbow with us, where dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.
If you enjoy this performance, please encourage your family and friends to join us for our additional performances happening this weekend.
-Will Butler
CAST
Dorothy..........................................................................Darilyn Finch
Aunt Em/Glinda............................................................Eowyn Wagner
Uncle Henry/Emerald City Guard.................................Rodney Glover II
Zeke/Cowardly Lion......................................................Toby Silverman
Hickory/Tinman..................................................................Peter Dark
Hunk/Scarecrow..........................................................James Eichman
Miss Gulch/Wicked Witch............................................Virginia Fleming
Professor Marvel/Oz...........................................................Allen Ware
Crow, Nikko, Ensemble...............................................Alexei Khimenko
Barrister, Tree, Ensemble..........................................Dallas Whitehead
Ensemble.........................................................................Dock Havey
Tree, Ensemble................................................................Eleni Horner
Coroner, Ensemble................................................................Jeru Hall
Lead Jitterbug, Ensemble...................................................Kate Jones
Mayor, Ensemble..............................................................Lainey Hunt
Winkie General, Ensemble................................................Leo Sanchez
Ensemble.........................................................................Lily Phillips
Crow, Ensemble..............................................................Maeve Bixler
Ensemble...................................................................Maggie Howard
Tree, Ensemble.......................................................Nessie Resseguier
Crow, Ensemble.................................................................Sadie Hord
Ensemble..................................................................Veronica Talbert
Ensemble........................................................................Zoe McCord
Toto.........................................................................................Hazel
DARILYN FINCH
JAMES EICHMAN
DOCK HAVEY
LEO SANCHEZ
ÈOWYN WAGNER
VIRGINIA FLEMING
ELENI HORNER
LILY PHILLIPS
SADIE HORD
RODNEY GLOVER
ALLEN WARE
JERU HALL
MAEVE BIXLER
VERONICA TALBERT
TOBY SILVERMAN
ALEXEI KHIMENKO
KATE JONES
MAGGIE HOWARD
ZOE MCCORD
PETER DARK
DALLAS WHITEHEAD
LAINEY HUNT
NESSIE RESSEGUIER
PRODUCTION STAFF
Director..............................................................................Will Butler
Assistant Director...........................................................Kristin Butler
Music Director.............................................................Janelle Ganske
Choreographer...............................................................Denise Eason
Production Assistant..........................................................Emily Bush
Stage Managers............................Anna Bigelow, Emma Anne Stephens
Assistant Stage Manager............................................Delaney Fleming
Run Crew..............................................Issac Miller, Elizabeth Williams
Scenic Designer.................................................................Will Butler
Scenic Charge Artist Supervisor...........................................Sara Hyatt
Scenic Charge Artists...................................................Carmen Bryan,
Jia Howell, Caroline High, Rose Majette,Sam Terlikosky, Clara Thorsen, Eden Torode, Ellan Torode
Set Crew......................................................................Sophia Baker,
Danyale Beaird, Zechariah Brown, Mackenzie Clare, Chelsea Clark, Emma Johnson, Xander Kline, Kendall Murray, Aly Pittman, Trinity Will
Projection Programming........................................................DWP Live
Projection Content Creators.................................John Giles, Wes Ware
Projection Operator..................................................Sussie Luchembe
Costume Designers............................Jessica Eichman, Jennifer Kleine
Costume Assistants..........................................................Sarah Dark,
Rachael Phillips, Anna Saterstrom
Costume Crew Chief...........................................................Avery Roth
Costume Crew...........................................................Quinn Merryman,
Josefa Rojas Gil, Paula Ruiz
Wig Designer.............................................................Cassie Hamilton
Wig Crew Chief..............................................,,,,,,,,,,,,.Farrah Northern
Wig Crew..................................................................Sophia Phoebus,
Isa Padovani Rios, Cossette Sullenberger
Makeup Crew Chiefs..........................................AJ Wood, Ava Thorsen
Makeup Crew..............................Riley (Salem) Everett, Christina Okobi
Prop Design.............................................................Kristin Butler
Props Mistress.................................................................Elsie Spivey
Props Crew..........................................Amanda Shelton, Clara Thorsen
Lighting Designer..........................................................Richard Davis
Light Crew Chief/Board Operator...................................Kendall Murray
Light Crew..................................................... ....Simone Longenecker,
Abigail Mammo, Bernard Simmons
Sound Consultant.............................................................Andy Morris
Sound Crew Chief...........................................................Rain Bridges
Sound Crew..........................................Atlas Harwell, Miontrey Phillips
Puppet Design...........................................................Cassie Hamilton
Sign Language Interpreters...........................Tia Billing, Keelie Carlson
House Manager.................................Jennifer Barragan, Kyndall Brisco
Ushers.......................................................................Danyale Beaird,
Tilly Gershbein, Clara Thorsen, Trinity Will
Production Photographer...................................................Kyla O'Neal
Production Videographer...............................................Jonathan Giles
Promotional Materials Designer................................................MA2LA
WILL BUTLER
KRISTIN BUTLER
JANELLE GANSKE
DENISE EASON
ANNA BIGELOW
EMMA ANNE STEPHENS
DELANEY FLEMING
SENIOR REFLECTIONS
Eleni Horner (Tree, Ensemble)
As a senior, being able to call myself a Hillsboro Player is a very exciting statement for me to make. Theatre was always something I loved to watch and admire but it never seemed like something I could do personally. In reality, acting and performing were just a small part of a wall I wasn’t ready to break down within myself, but I will never regret doing it. This production has given me such an amazing opportunity to be introduced into a whole new community of art and like-minded people. I had the chance to learn a lot about myself and so many things that I didn’t know about the world of performing. I thank all the people that got me to where I am today in this musical and I am so grateful for this opportunity, and everyone involved. I definitely should have started this earlier!
Elsie Spivey (Props Mistress)
When I joined the Hillsboro Players this year, I was worried that I would feel out of touch with the community or with theatre as a whole, since I was joining late and hadn’t been involved in a show in a while. Instead, I found a group of people who immediately welcomed me, and was able to reignite a passion for theatre that I’d missed having. Being in this community this year has challenged me to be creative and to grow, and I’m very grateful to have had a small part in bringing some of my favorite stories to life, and in doing so to have made so many good memories with this incredibly talented group of people.
Emma Anne Stephens (Stage Manager)
When I decided to join the tech crew for Bright Star, I was very nervous. I had not participated in theatre since middle school, and I didn’t know if I would even be good at tech. However, I was welcomed with open arms to rediscover the magic of theatre. Through the support of Mr. and Mrs. Butler, I became a stage manager this year and for the first time I really felt like I had found my place in theatre. I look forward to rehearsal every day and I am so proud of all of the talented people around me and all of the hard work that they have put in. I’d like to say thank you to the Butlers for creating such a safe environment for their students to explore theatre and challenge themselves. You’ve pushed me to be a better person in and out of the theatre.
Lainey Hunt (Mayor, Ensemblee)
Since my first time in the Hillsboro stage my freshman year, I have known that theatre and the players are something really special. From my first show Hillsboro Follies to my last show Wizard of Oz, I have gotten to be a part of the community that makes theatre exceptional. I have grown so much under the direction of the Butlers, Ms. Ganske, and Ms. Denise. I am thankful for the ways they have all supported me and challenged me to become the best version of myself. These have been some of the most formative experiences in my life, and I will always have the memories of the players. Love you all!
Virginia Fleming (Miss Gulch/Wicked Witch)
My time at Hillsboro has been difficult but highly rewarding. Being a part of the Hillsboro Players has been the most fun, exciting, and engaging part of my high school experience. Theater is a place where I have been allowed to escape and decompress from the stress of life. And even more than that, I have been able to express myself without judgement from my peers. My journey with the Players started a little late, as my first production was “Catch Me If You Can” during my sophomore year, but I think that I have made the most of the time I have had. I have watched this group grow and change into truly what feels like a family. I will forever be grateful for these people and the experiences we have shared.
SPECIAL THANKS
Dr. Shuler Pelham and the Hillsboro Faculty and Staff
Hillsboro Players Booster Club
Keely Rogers and Anna Brazille, Evan Cain, Emma Johnson, Connor Lane, Addy Miller, Margret Nelson, Ben Ruiz, Syrah Sanders,Geni Segovia, Amanda Shelton, Kayla Southall, Kieran Smith, Ester Timbs, Eden Torode, Ella Torode, Porter Wilhite, Tessa Williams
Lauren Braddock Havey and Ed Rahm
John Giles
Kyla O'Neal
Mark Fahey, Mark Bixler, Carl Johnson, Dave Hunt, and Ray Wagner
Emily Bigelow, Darcie Finch, Sabrina Sullenberger, and Keisha Williams
Heather Slighter
Danny Mendoza
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
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