HCCT announces cast for ‘Wizard of Oz’ musical
COTTONWOOD SHORES — About 50 cast members are hard at work rehearsing for the Hill Country Community Theatre’s summer musical production of "The Wizard of Oz," which runs July 14-24, sponsors said.
Three veterans of the HCCT stage will play the lead male roles: Anson Hahn as Scarecrow, Richard Fernandes as Tin Woodman and Mark Fernandez as Cowardly Lion. The role of Dorothy will be shared in alternating performances by Alyssa Anderson and Abigail Nunnelly.
The Wicked Witch of the West will be played by Melissa Jamar. Faith Westerman is the Good Witch, Sorceress of the North; Sally Stemac is Visiting Witch No. 1 and Megan Goodman is Visiting Witch No. 2.
Guy Kemp is the Wizard of Oz.
Based on the book by L. Frank Baum and adapted by Frank Gabrielson from the music and lyrics of the MGM motion picture score, the much-loved musical will be the final production of the theater’s 25th anniversary season.
David Bend, musical theater director at Harmony School of Creative Arts in Marble Falls, will direct the play. His wife, Barbara Bend, Harmony School executive director, will serve as musical director for the production.
The two co-founded Harmony School and have participated in HCCT musical productions in the past.
Other cast members and their characters include: Mary Beth Madsen as Aunt Em, Wayne Hawley as Uncle Henry, Taylor Holcomb as a farmhand, Ben Anderson as the Munchkin Farmer, Colby Offutt as Mayor of the Munchkins, Savannah Tribble as Munchkin Barrister and Sydney Kelley as Munchkin Coroner.
Lord Growlie is being played by Wayne Hawley with Esther Jones as Oz Lady, Lyric Jones as Gloria, Alicia Marchand as Formost General, Savannah Tribble as Private and Kelley, Bailey Kelley, Maximus Nelson, Karoline Westerman, Ocean Fillingim, Ben Anderson and Dylan Offutt as other generals.
Holcomb also will play Tibia and Anna Herrington, Kassidie Jamar, Summer Montoya, Westerman, Fillingim and Kelley will play the Girls and the Dancers.
Munchkin and Citizens of Oz chorus singers are Angelee Shaw, Lili Biglari, Dylan Offutt, Kelley, Maximus Nelson, Westerman, Herrington, Sydney Kelly, Summer Montoya, Barbara Gord, Pam Hawley and Mary Beth Madsen.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays and 2:15 p.m. Sundays at the theater, 4003 FM 2147.
Tickets will be available at the HCCT box office July 5 for members and July 8 for the public.
Box office hours are noon-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Call the box office at (830) 798-8944.