We’re off to see the Wizard — two weekends in a row in West Windsor. The first production is being presented by students at Grover Middle School on Friday and Saturday, March 19 and 20, at 7:30 p.m. A benefit performance takes place on Sunday, March 21, at 3 p.m. The following weekend, March 27 and 28, West Windsor and Plainsboro Dance Company presents its own take on the Yellow Brick Road adventure on the same stage. Tickets for Friday and Saturday evenings are $8.
The Grover School production is a collaboration of many school departments. Directors include Karen Warner, the TV production teacher, and Jodi Keenan, the chorus teacher, who have been rehearsing the students since November.
Special effects, with help from TV production, include the use of a green screen, as well as a tornado, flying monkeys, and a flying hot air balloon. The art and technology departments built and painted scenery. Parents made costumes, sold boosters, and coordinated the program.
Dorothy Gale is played by Alyssa Gay (Friday and Sunday), and Catie Taaffe (Thursday and Sunday). Aunt Em, Isabel Hager-Johnson; Uncle Henry, Blake Eisenberg; Lion/Zeke, Joey Tedesco; Tinman/ Hickory, Dan McElwee; Scarecrow/ Hunk, Josh Troger.
Alissa Gay, one of the two Dorothys, is an 8th grader who has been performing in church plays since she was seven, and she loves singing, dancing, and acting. Catie Taaffe, a 7th grader, the other Dorothy, has been doing musicals for four years with New Jersey Repertory Theater and has performed several times at Disney World with them. She takes voice and dance lessons.
Joseph Tedesco is making his theatrical debut and likes to create cartoons, play basketball, and baseball. Josh Troger has performed at Peddie and goes to a performing arts summer camp. He likes writing, football, and guitar. Dan McElwee is also making his stage debut, but was anchor last year on the school’s morning news. He likes soccer and basketball, and takes piano lessons.
The Wicked Witch is played by Tanya Chanda; Oz, Ethan Levy; Glinda, Anna O’Connell; Emerald City Guard, Ethan Fishbane; Winkie General, Matt Hasling; and Nikko, Mark Stauning.
Mayor, Ted Mahoney; Coroner, Ryan McCabe; Barrister, Patricia Harte; City Fathers, Adam Kaufman and Caitlin Heim; Braggart, Zach Baumann; and Teacher, Taylor Goode. Lullaby League features Phoebe Sandford, Katy White, Ashley Erickson, Maureen Ludington, and Melanie Bugher. Lollipop Guild members are Christina Fan, Angelea Ramboyong, and Neha Gavai.
Munchkin chorus members are Julia Levy, Erina Davidson, Sasha Mintz, Erin McGovern, Kelly Cave, Saira Dar, Bhavana Dhawan, Catherine Greenman, Tara McGuinness, Sal Sciortino, Michael Kenny, Matt Hasling, Marc Vinci, Jeremy Lopez, Mark Stauning, and Ethan Fishbane.
Crows 1, 2, and 3 are played by Maredith Hannon, Emily Rudofsky, and Alexis Garcia. Crow chorus and dancers include Chandni Kapadia, Safaa Dam, Gaby Stember-Young, Christine Oglesby, Christina Mendez, and Stacey Greenberger.
Trees 1, 2, and 3, feature Stephanie Mischell, Libby Engel, and Ericka Honig. The tree chorus includes Taylor Goode, Catherine Greenman, Shruthi Tarigoppula, Jane E, Melanie Bugher, AnneMarie Strange, and Ali Rice. Snowflakes are played by Phoebe Sandford, Ashley Erickson, Ericka Honig, Jane E, and Alexis Garcia.
The Winkies include Ted Mahoney, Ryan McCabe, Zach Baumann, Sasha Mintz, Kelly Cave, Angelea Ramboyong, Erina Davidson, and Michael Kenny. Flying monkeys are played by Marc Vinci, Sal Sciortino, and Jeremy Lopez.
Oz citizens include beauticians, Phoebe Sandford, Safaa Dam, and Christina Mendez; polishers, Christine Oglesby, Shruthi Tarigoppula, Chandni Kapadia, Jane E, and AnneMarie Strange; and manicurists, Emily Rudofsky, Alexis Garcia, Maredith Hannon, and Stacey Greenberger. The Oz soloist is Christine Oglesby.
Chorus members include Julia Levy, Erin McGovern, Saira Dar, Bhavana Dhawan, Catherine Greenman, Tara McGuinness, Zach Baumann, Ryan McCabe, Adam Kaufman, Marc Vinci, Blake Eisenberg, Stephanie Mischell, Isabel Hager-Johnson, Ali Rice, Melanie Bugher, Libby Engel, Taylor Goode, Patricia Harte, Caitlin Heim, Ashley Erickson, Christina Fan, Neha Gavai, Ericka Honig, Katy White, Maureen Ludington, and Gaby Stember-Young.
Artists include Chris Mancini, Jessica Loren, Vini Lanka, Mary Wadlinger, Fenil Sevak, Neethi Srinivasan, Chrissy Sibley, Krissy Robinson, Cecilia Mauro, Haley Hyams, Gabe Dixson, Alex Pollack, Koren Kwag, DJ Hiller, and Elliot Tas.
Pit orchestra musicians include piano, Joshua Suslak; violin, Tiffany Huang and James Sun; flute, Christina Park; clarinet, Jennifer Principe; saxophone, Micah Langer; and percussion, Jason Sher and Alex Copenhaver.
At the benefit performance on Sunday, March 21, at 3 p.m., several teacher and staff members will play the lead roles. The teacher cast includes Frank Gallo, guidance counselor, Lion; Cortney Blore, teacher, Scarecrow; Rich Coppola, teacher, Tinman; Steve Mayer, principal, Professor; Sharon Gonzales, nurse, Glinda; Detective Edwards, Wizard; Kathy O’Donnell, teacher, Auntie Em; Kathy Costello, teacher, Jenny Godnick; and Rob Henry, Uncle Henry. Tickets for the benefit are $10 and all the proceeds will go to “Cherished Creations,” a New Jersey-based charity. Call 609-716-5250 for information.
