Head down the Yellow Brick Road for The Wizard of Oz from April 13-15

We love the time-honored music and warm message of this family favorite The Wizard of Oz, and watching the students from the Lower Moreland School District bring it to life adds to the magic This Week!

For four performances – Thursday, April 13 at 7 p.m., Friday, April 14 at 7 p.m., and Saturday, April 15 (1 p.m. and 7 p.m.) – the talented students will sing, dance, and perform their way into our hearts at Lower Moreland High School.

The show is the culmination of nearly four months of hard work from the dedicated cast, crew, music and theatrical directors, and more.

Everyone is looking forward to the music which includes Over the Rainbow, Follow the Yellow Brick Road, We're Off to See the Wizard, and many more.

There is something for everyone in the show: incredible music, visuals of the costumes and sets, artistry of the choreography, some surprise special effects, and most importantly, a dedicated cast and crew that has worked tirelessly for nearly four months to put the production together.

In the role of Dorothy, is played by 15-year-old freshman Adrienne Nicastro, who says that she loves being able to portray this role for family and friends.

“Dorothy is a unique character. I can relate to her because we all have a bit of wanderlust; wanting more and wanting to get out and see the world.,” she explained. “She is also very grateful for what she has and I can certainly relate to that message.”

For Adrienne, The Wizard of Oz film has always been “such a comfort movie. I love the happy feeling it gives you when you watch it. It is so colorful and makes you feel good. So, to be in this show and make new friends is the best. I am really excited, especially as we get closer to opening night.”

Senior Will Bond, who plays The Tin Man, made his mark in the title role of Murray Avenue Middle School’s production of Shrek, says he has been in nine additional school and community shows and loved each one of them.

Will is heading to Penn State Schreyer’s Honors program in the fall to study film or communications.

“I am not a sports guy. Theater people are my people,” Will said. “I found such a warm, welcoming, and inclusive group. We have spent years bonding in drama, choir, and outside of school and I am so grateful for this great community.”

Playing the role of the Wicked Witch of the West is Izzy Magazzei, a senior, who has performed in seven other school productions. She plans to head to Widener University in the fall to study psychology with her eye on becoming a school counselor.

“I love being able to show my craft to the community and have people see what I like to do best,” Izzy said. She enjoys playing a character role, “especially being the villain is a great deal of fun. I love the props, the costume, and that she is driving the plot.”

Izzy added that she knows how different her life would be without her Drama Club friends. “High school isn’t easy,” she said, “but spending so much time with friends who always have your back, is the best!”

This is one of the "biggest productions" Lower Moreland High School has done in a long time; there are 100 costumes, 15 large set pieces, and many of the students play three or four different characters.

Leah Abramson is the LMHS Drama Club Advisor and director of the fall drama and spring musical. She has been proudly directing theater at the Lower Moreland School District for 21 years.

"I’m excited to bring this show to the Lower Moreland community because it is a beloved classic. I am thrilled to be able to include 16 students from Pine Road Elementary who for most of them, this is their first time on stage," Abramson said.

"Everyone should come and see the show to get caught up in the theatre magic as we whisk you away to the Emerald City with Dorothy and her friends. Escape the stress of the real world for a short time, and feel the joy as you follow along on the adventure on the Yellow Brick Road."

"This show is a great testament to their creativity and work ethic," said Glen DeGeorge, the orchestra director, and producer. He has been involved in Lower Moreland High School productions since 2018.

"I enjoy seeing the students express themselves creatively and musically to tell a story," DeGeorge said. "By the end of the production, students have not only grown as individuals but as a team to develop and serve the story and music that we share with the audience."

Jennie Kelly, the assistant director and choreographer, has been involved for four years. "I absolutely love being a part of this theater community," she said.

"Getting to work with the students and seeing their improvement over the course of the rehearsal process is extremely rewarding. This show has a particularly dedicated cast and has made the rehearsal process extremely enjoyable," said Kelly. "A personal highlight of mine was passing my love of tap dancing on to a new group of high school students."

Harry Fisher, a 5th grader at Pine Road Elementary School, plays a mini-Munchkin in the current production of The Wizard of Oz.

“This is really fun,” Harry said. “I love everyone being together, singing these songs, and bringing out the best in everyone. We appreciate the style of the music and the movement and there are a lot of great people involved. I am enjoying every bit of it.”

Senior Juliana Ciarrocchi is headed to DeSales University in the fall where she hopes to major in musical theater. She started her performing career in 8th grade and The Wizard of Oz is her fourth musical.

An ensemble member, she plays one of the crows, a poppy, a Winkie, and a soldier. “I love that we get to see everyone expressing themselves in their own way while acting and singing,” Juliana explained.

When she was young, “I used to watch the movie every Easter and I was inspired by my mom dressing up as Glynda and my aunt wearing a Dorothy costume for Halloween.” This inspired her to shoot for a leading role. But there were some life lessons that occurred along the way.

“I realized that all of the roles are important, whether it is an ensemble part or a leading role because it’s about all of us being in the same boat.”

What the story of The Wizard of Oz has taught her is “that everyone has his or her insecurities, but in the end, it's only up to you to be confident in yourself. We are all appreciated for who we are – a major lesson that should be learned by everyone, especially children.”

So, please join us over the rainbow and re-discover that there really is no place like home!

Showtimes for The Wizard of Oz: Thursday, April 13 at 7 p.m.; Friday, April 14, at 7 p.m.; and two shows on Saturday, April 15, at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Tickets are available at the door -- $15 for general admission and $12 for students. Or purchase tickets from https://lmtsd.ticketleap.com/