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The Wizard of Oz coming to town
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July 11, 2012 |
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David
Carpenter and around 50 kids in Bonners
Ferry Summer Youth Theatre have been
hard at work preparing to bring the
yellow brick road and a pair of ruby
slippers to Bonners Ferry. |
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By Mike Weland
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Charena
Branscum (l) and Sara Owinyo returned to
Bonners Ferry Summer Youth Theatre after
a year in college, reuniting with old
friends and mentoring new ones. |
"Watch out for flying monkeys and Munchkin
giggles," agreed Charena Branscum and Sara
Owinyo when asked what people should know about
the Bonners Ferry Summer Youth Theatre
presentation of "The Wizard of Oz," which hits
the stage for three performances beginning
August 3.
According to theatre director David Carpenter,
the nearly 50 kids who make up the cast of this
rendition of the L. Frank Baum classic have been
working hard in preparation, having been in
rehearsals since the second week in June.
And for the first time, Summer Youth Theatre has
reached an important goal, bringing two alumni
back from college to gain experience relevant to
the degrees they're pursuing and earn a little
money while doing it.
Charena Branscum, who returns this fall as a
sophomore at the University of Idaho, where she
is majoring in dance, is directing and
choreographing The Wizard of Oz, and Sara Owinyo,
who will be be a sophomore at Masters College,
Santa Clarita, California, where she is majoring
in vocal performance, is music director for the
production.
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Director
David Carpenter brings a passion and
sense of fun reflected in the enthusiasm
of his young actors and actresses. |
"This has been a goal of ours for several years,
to provide former theatre members who have moved
on to pursue an education or a career in the
performing arts a chance to come home and gain
some real-world experience, and to actually be
able to pay them something, not much, but
something, to make it more worth their while."
Both Charena and Sara, who graduated from
Bonners Ferry High School in 2010, were acting
and singing in local productions for years
before moving up and on, and the chance to give
them the opportunity to come back and continue
being part of the Bonners Ferry Summer Youth
Theatre, Carpenter said, is a remarkable
milestone.
"This gives them experience, and gives the
younger performers a glimpse at what could lie
ahead for them if they work hard," Carpenter
said.
In addition to their behind-the-curtain work,
both young women will be performing in the
production as well.
According to Charena, another milestone achieved
this year that will be put to good use when The
Wizard of Oz takes the stage are a range of new
effects, including pyrotechnics that have never
before been seen on the stage at the Becker
Auditorium.
"There's a lot more we can do now to liven our
performances," she said.
The two are mentoring some of the exceptional
talent Boundary County youth is known for.
Samantha Barradale, playing Dorothy, realizes
she's not in Kansas anymore when she follows the
yellow brick road and meets Kendra Urbaniak, who
plays the Scarecrow seeking a brain, the
heartless Tin Woodsman, played by Sean Varelman,
and a Cowardly Lion, played by Isaac Ryckeghem.
They fall in with Dorothy, who just wants to go
home.
Along the way, they are helped by Glinda the
Goodd Witch, played by Brook Wilson, who also
doubles as Aunt Em, and beset by The Wicked
Witch of the West, portrayed by Brooklyn Wilson,
who doubles as Miss Gulch, who uses her powers
to throw numerous obstacles in the way of the
intrepid wayfarers.
Along the way, they meet the Munchkins and are
assailed by flying monkeys and more, but they
persevere to finally reach The Wonderful Wizard
of Oz, played by Michael Brooks.
In the end, they all find what they were looking
for, and learn they had it all along, and
Dorothy and Toto are reunited with Aunt Em and
Uncle Henry, played by Linden Roop, on a farm in
Kansas, thanks to a pair of ruby slippers.
The Wizard of Oz will take the stage in the
Becker Auditorium at Bonners Ferry High School
at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, August 2-4.
Tickets, available at the door, are $8 for
adults and $5 for students and seniors |
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