Buckeye Local to present ‘The Wizard of Oz’

The Buckeye Local High School stage will be transformed into the Emerald City for the spring production of “The Wizard of Oz.”

Performing arts students will present the musical version of L. Frank Baum’s classic story March 19-21. Doors will open at 5 p.m., with the curtain to rise at 6 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door for $10 during the first two performances.

The Performing Arts Boosters will host a preshow pasta dinner March 21 at 4 p.m. in the commons area. Tickets that day will cost $20 for the dinner and show, and proceeds benefit the school program.

Dorothy and Toto are swept away from their Kansas home by a tornado and venture along the yellow brick road to Oz with their newfound friends — the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion — to meet the powerful wizard. The show features songs including “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and is provided through Concord Theatricals.

“We chose the show this year and it fits our main cast perfectly,” said director Chuck Eddy. “We have an enormous amount of talent in our production and they have been working very hard to bring our community ‘The Wizard of Oz.’”

Leading the cast are Makenna Halicky as Dorothy; Jonas Eddy as Scarecrow/Hunk; Regan Wilson as Tin Man/Hickory; Aubrey Hepburn as Lion/Zeke; Alyssa Krieger as Aunt Em/Glinda; Jaidyn Schrader as Miss Gulch/Witch; Jayse Carter as Oz/Professor Marvel; Stephen Cochran as Uncle Henry/Guard; and Zane Eddy as Winkie General/Morph Suit.

Rounding out the ensemble are Kaylee Whittaker, Sawyer Matthews, Mihaela Petric, Shylee Andlinger, Gabbi Yoho, Brayden Freeman, Sutton Monroe, Kadence King, Laken Tanner, Emma Wood, Lynzie Payne, Tiana King, Camryn Dutton, Sammie Foldi, Mike Piper, Camden Bell, Bailey Keenan, Grace Monroe, Emily Rennells, Alia Maderia, Rhonda Pethtel, Elena Heilman, Spencer Hirsch, Avarie Kimble, Bourkely DeVinney, Peyton Doty, Piper Fetty, Holden Spencer and Lizzy Horstman, with John Frank as technical manager, Nola Toth conducting the light console, and Ari Hartley and Katie White on the stage crew.

Eddy thanked parents for volunteering their time to prepare the production.

“I want to thank Steve and Andrea Halicky for leading our team in the construction of the set,” he said, also recognizing Andrea Halicky as booster president and Krissy Frank as treasurer.

Elementary students will get a sneak preview when third-to-fifth graders will be bused to BLHS for a performance March 18 at 9:30 a.m.

Buckeye Local High School is located at 10692 OH-150, Rayland.