The Wizard of Oz coming to town
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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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| 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. |
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. |
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