'Oz' roars to life Thursday

Chris Lyons (from left) as the Scarecrow, Josh Bopp as the Tin Man and Brent Cobb (right) as the Cowardly Lion escort Jeri Lynn Karr as Dorothy down the Yellow Brick Road.

The McCook Community College production of The Wizard of Oz roars into town on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The play will be performed at the Knights of Columbus hall at 7 on Thursday and Friday, and again at 1:30 on Saturday.

The delightful musical is very similar to the classic movie version of the L. Frank Baum book. Dorothy (Jeri Lynn Karr), Auntie Em (Donnie Poore), Uncle Henry (Lew Tapia), and the farm hand (Lisa Burns) are caught in a cyclone.

Dorothy is swept away and awakens in Oz. The Mayor of the Munchkins (Paul Clark), the Munchkin Farmer (Rachel Hart) and the Munchkins all welcome Dorothy to their land.

The welcome is cut short by the arrival of the Wicked Witch of the West (the incomparable Nancy Haller-Towne). The Witch and her Witch pals (Cheryl Scott and Trina Mabile) provide scary but funny moments in the play.

To find her way home, Dorothy is directed to seek out the Great and Powerful Wizard of Oz (Don Harpst, of course). Along the way, Dorothy meets a Scarecrow (Chris Lyons), a Tin Man (Josh Bopp) and a Cowardly Lion (Brent Cobb). The Lion has a most unpleasant encounter with Oz Lady (Jerda Garey) on his way to get courage. On the way to Oz, the group meets up with Gloria (Jill Hansen), Lord Growlie (Cody Emerson), and the Sorceress (Amy Strauch). A scary moment occurs when the group runs into Tibia (Tim Brayton), a pal of the Wicked Witch.

On their quest for courage, brains, a heart and a way home, the group and various Munchkins sing some favorite songs from the show, including "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead," and "We're Off to See the Wizard." There are some differences between the movie and the play -- there is no Toto! And there are some songs that are not in the movie.

The production is directed by Sue Watts, and the music director is Carl Philo, who also provides accompaniment during the show. Jane Shield is producer, and Jeri Lynn and Darrin Karr are assistant musical directors. Trevor Premer and Chuck Trail built and painted the sets, and Amy Strauch and Alyssa Royce designed and painted the Munchkin shoes. Others in the cast include Mikeala Ruble, Christina McMurtrey, Alyssa Karr, Julia Lyons, Jenna Smith, Madison Koepke, Luke Mabile, Laura McCarty, Athena Parde, Megan Conroy, Casey Cobb, Kyle Gaston, Gregory Gaston, Garrett Wagner, Chandler Wagner, Ethan Poore, Josh Poore, Kristin Green, Rebecca Sehnert, Emily Karr, Mariah Poore, Nathan McCarty, Mitchell Green, Gretchen Sehnert, Sara Hageman, Alyssa Smith, Bobbi Ridenour and Kathy Mabile.

The play runs under two hours, but the seating is limited. Tickets are $7 and are on sale at Howard Kool's, and at the door half an hour before show time.