THE WIZARD OF OZ is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC. www.concordtheatricals.com
The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
With Music and Lyrics by: Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg
Background Music by: Herbert Stothart
Dance and Vocal Arrangements by: Peter Howard Orchestration by: Larry Wilcox
The Wizard of Oz is one of the most well-known and popular stories of our time. In 1967, TIME Magazine called The Wizard, (referring to the 1939 film starring Judy Garland) “the most popular single film property in the history of U.S. television.” In 2001, experts from the Recording Industry Association of America chose “Over the Rainbow” as the best, the very best, song of the 20th century. You probably know some of its most iconic lines; “Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore”, “I’ll get you my pretty, and your little dog too” and “There’s no place like home.”
When determining whether to produce this musical at North Central, it was not its popularity that became the deciding factor. For me, it always comes down to the important ideas, underlying themes and meaning that the story, the piece of theatre hold - what the audience takes away with them. Deep inside this story we hear that Dorothy always had the power to go back home to Kansas, but had to learn it for herself. When asked what she learned, Dorothy says: “I think that it isn’t enough just to want to see Uncle Henry and Auntie Em. And it’s that…if I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any further than my own backyard, because if it isn’t there, I never really lost it to begin with.” Yes, so many times, what we’ve been searching for, the ability to find our way… the things that we truly long for…the most important things in life, have been right there, in front of us all along in the form of the people who love us!
I would say the same regarding the experience of this musical. It has been the people who make it worth the journey! Wizard of Oz is a difficult and challenging musical on a number of levels. However, the cast and crew have risen wonderfully and successfully to the challenge! Today’s performance is the product of hours and hours of hard work, commitment, love, generosity and sacrifice on the part of many people! I am so grateful that I get to link arms and work with such wonderful people! At the top of that list is my wife Peggy, who supports, helps and cheers me on during a production season full of long days.
We are so excited that you have come to see North Central University’s production of Wizard of Oz! Thank you for supporting the NCU Theatre department and the cast of Wizard of Oz! Please sit back and get ready to journey with us to Oz and back…and discover that there truly is ‘no place like home’.
Wayne Matthews DirectorOver the Rainbow ......................................................................... Dorothy Munchkinland Musical Sequence ......... Glinda, Dorothy, Munchkins
Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead .............. Glinda, Dorothy, Munchkins Yellow Brick Road
Munchkins
If I Only Had a Brain...................................Scarecrow, Dorothy, Crows We’re Off to See the Wizard (Duet) ..................... Dorothy, Scarecrow
If I Only Had a Heart
Tinman, Dorothy, Trees We’re Off to See the Wizard (Trio) ......Dorothy, Tinman, Scarecrow Lions, Tigers and Bears ...........................Dorothy, Tinman, Scarecrow
If I Only had the Nerve ................ Lion, Dorothy, Tinman, Scarecrow We’re Off to See the Wizard (Quartet)....... Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tinman, Lion Poppies
Glinda, Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tinman, Lion, Poppies
Entr’acte (Optimistic Voices) ........................................ Female Chorus Merry Old Land of Oz ...... Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tinman, Lion, Guard & Ozians Merry Old Land of Oz (Reprise)..... Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tinman, Lion, Guard, ................................................................................................................................. Ozians
If I Were King of the Forest ...... Lion with Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tinman March of the Winkies
Winkies Winkies Exit
Winkies Jitterbug
Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tinman, Lion, Jitterbugs Jitterbug (Reprise)
Jitterbugs Winkies March (Reprise)
Winkies Winkies March with Friends & Over the Rainbow (Reprise)
Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tinman, Lion, & Winkies Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead (Reprise)
Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tinman, Lion, & Winkies
Dorothy Gale ................................................................
Chenney Johnson
Toto ...........................................................................................
Tulip Peters
Aunt Em/Glinda ................................................................. Sarah Graham Uncle Henry/Emerald City Guard ............................... Nathan Luckow Zee/Cowardly Lion .............................................................. Bianca White Hickory/Tinman .................................................................... Ryan Knight Hunk/Scarecrow .............................................................. Andrew Marbut Miss Almira Gulch/Wicked Witch of the West ...... Keturah (Ketzie) Leake
Professor Chester Marvel/ The Wizard of Oz .............. Joseph Krube Nikko/ Munchkin Land Barrister ................................. Mara Grotjohn Munchkin Land Mayor/Winkie General ............... Kamdyn Burrough Munchkin Land Coroner ................................................... Anneka Cress Munchkin Land City Father ........................................... Sarah Johnson
Cole Beaudry, Loie Beaudry, Elianah Hanson, Gregory Hanson, Sydney Heitzman, Marjorie Patchin, Noelle Preston, Jamie Stratton
Lullaby League Jocelin Hanson, Shivan Stone
Lollipop Guild
Nora Gunderson, Bo Leake, Marjorie Patchin
Cole Beaudry, Loie Beaudry, Nora Gunderson, Elianah Hanson, Gregory Hanson, Jocelin Hanson, Shivan Stone, Bo Leake
Julianna Crandall, Anneka Cress, Ellie Farris, Mara Grotjohn, Sarah Johnson, Jamie Stratton
Polishers
Xia Xee Lor (Chia), Noelle Preston Manicurists
Kamdyn Burrough, Sydney Heitzman
Julianna Crandall, Anneka Cress, Xia Xee Lor (Chia)
Sydney Heitzman, Noelle Preston, Jamie Stratton
Julianna Crandall, Anneka Cress, Sydney Heitzman, Noelle Preston, Jamie Stratton
Sarah Johnson, Xia Xee Lor (Chia), Cole Beaudry, Ellianah Hanson, Shivan Stone, Bo Leake
Cole Beaudry, Loie Beaudry, Sophie Breithaupt, Nora Gunderson, Bo Leake, Elianah Hanson, Gregory Hanson, Jocelin Hanson, Marjorie Patchin, Shivan Stone
Jocelin Hanson, Gregory Hanson, Nora Gunderson, Loie Beaudry, Marjorie Patchin
The North Central University Theatre Department would like to say thank you. To Chris Joseph and his amazing team for taking care of all the lighting and sound needs of the production! To Molly Schrade for her wonderful administrative assistance! To Allison and Jennifer Peters for sharing their time and their wonderful dog Tulip with us! To Tulip for being the perfect Toto! To Kelsey, Dorothy and Timo thy Dagget, Gary Determan, Sarah Graham, Tricia, Ellianah, Greg and Jocelyn Hanson, Sydney Heitzman, Ryan Knight, Joseph Krube, Ketzie Leake, Nathan Luckow, Peggy Matthews, Lydia Nynas, Jamie Stratton, Alessio Tranchell, Parker Wruck and the intro to theatre class for sharing their energy, skill, creativity, commitment, willingness, time and love! We are grateful for the many many hours of work and assistance building, painting, sewing, creating, designing art work, drawing, running errands, moving set pieces, doing makeup and hair. Without these wonderful generous people, this production of The Wizard of Oz would not have been possible! From the bottom of our hearts – we say... THANK YOU!
Cole Beaudry (Poppy/Munchkin/ Ozian/Winkie) is in the 4th Grade. This is Cole’s first acting role. Cole trains for American Ninja Warrior. He enjoys ultimate frisbee, LEGO, swimming and soccer. He is fluent in Chinese and would like to be an engineer. Cole enjoys volunteering on the tech team at church.
Loie Beaudry (Poppy/Munchkin/ Ozian/Monkey) is in the 3rd Grade. This is Loie’s first acting role. Loie enjoys American Ninja Warrior, art, soccer, and swimming. Loie speaks Chinese. Loie serves on the worship team at church and loves telling people about Jesus.
Sophie Breithaupt (Poppy) is 3.5 years old and is so excited to be making her NCU Theatre debut! This last summer marked her first ever theatre production in Fridley Community Theatre’s production of Once Upon A Mattress (Kids Ensemble). Sophie loves being on stage and is so grateful to Mr. Wayne for this chance to be a part of the NCU theatre family! She hopes everyone enjoys the show!
Kamdyn Burrough (Ensemble/ Munchkin Mayor/Ozian Polisher/ Winkie General) is a freshman Worship Leading Major. Previous roles include Morticia Addams; Clive Clairmont; Lady Catherine; Miss Cratchit and others. My heart has always been connected to music so I would like to become a part of an amazing worship team and lead worship and just do music for the rest of my life for the Lord and make it accessible to everyone through the words I write and the songs I sing.
Julianna Crandall (Ensemble/Tree) is a sophomore Creative Writing major with minors in Theatre and Deaf Studies. She has previously appeared on the NCU stage as Charlotte in Pride and Prejudice and Gayle in Almost, Maine. After graduation, Julianna plans to follow her passion of writing as a poet,
author, songwriter, and wherever else God leads her! She would like to thank her friends, parents, and sweetheart for always supporting her creative endeavors. Glory to God!
Anneka Cress (Coroner Munchkin/ Jitterbug/Oz Citizen) is a freshman this year at North Central University. She is studying Elementary Education with a minor in American Sign Language. This is her first role on the NCU stage but previously has participated in improv and community theater as well. In the future she hopes to pursue elementary education somewhere in the United States, and be able to make accommodations for hard of hearing and deaf students.
Ellie Faris (Tree/Munchkin/Ozian) is a freshman Theater Major. I have been in theater since I was 8 years old, so here are some of my favorite roles over the years; Gertrude McFuzz - Suessical; Madeline Mugg - Dr. Dolittle ; Marty the Zebra - Madagascar the Musical. I am excited to be in more NCU theater productions as I continue my time here, as well as being able to lead worship and learn more through my relationship with God. I am not exactly sure where God wants to place me, but I am more than excited to follow the Lord in all that I do.
Sarah Graham (Aunt Em/Glinda) is a junior Education: Vocal Music (K-12) and Theatre major. Previous roles include Mrs. Paroo in The Music Man; Disciple in Godspell; Hope in Almost, Maine ; and several others. Sarah plans to teach high school show choir and children’s theatre. She hopes to be in future shows here at NCU and in the city of Chicago. She also would love to start a community theatre in her small town in Illinois.
Mara Grotjohn (Nikko/Ensemble/ Munchkin Barrister/Ozian Beautician) is a freshman majoring in global studies. This is her first role at North Central but she has previously been a part of Peter Pan, Schoolhouse Rock, Beauty and the Beast, and several others. After college, Mara eventually hopes to go into missions.
Nora Gunderson (Munchkin Lollypop Guild/Poppy/Ozian/Monkey) is in 5th grade and excited to be acting in another North Central production. She has been acting since 1st grade. She’s played roles in The Miracle Worker and Seussical, as well as two of Roseville Community’s youth productions. Nora’s hobbies are singing, dancing, drawing, writing and reading. When Nora grows up, she hopes to be a hairstylist.
Gregory Hanson (Munchkin/Poppy/ Ozian/Monkey) is in the 5th Grade. This is his first performance on stage. He is on the kids audio visual production team at Emmanuel Elk River. Gregory loves to tinker and find ways to create new things.
Elianah Hanson (Munchkin/Poppy/ Ozian/Winkie) is in the 7th Grade. This is her first performance on stage. She sings on the youth worship team at Emmanuel Elk River. Elianah loves to care for animals and hopes to be a vet someday.
Jocelin Hanson (Munchkin/Poppy/ Ozian/Monkey) is in the 2nd Grade. Previously appeared in the 2019 Cheerios commercial called “Eat them for her”. She performed as the Elephant Bird and Max the Who’s Dog in the NCU Seussical. Jocelin wants to have a family, learn to play the guitar, and help others.
Sydney Heitzman (Ensemble/ Munchkin/Crow/Ozian Manicurist/ Jitterbug) is a junior Global Studies major with a minor in Theatre. Her previous theatre involvement at NCU includes Almost, Maine (Glory/ Gayle), Pride & Prejudice (Mary), Godspell (Ensemble), and the Traveling Acting Ensemble. Post graduation, she plans to have a career in vocational missions and ministry. She would like to thank God for showing up for her in the infinite ways she has needed him, and her friends, family, and friends who have become her family for the love and support she has felt while preparing for this show.
Chenney Johnson (Dorothy Gale) is a second semester senior majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies: Fine Arts & Church Leadership. This is her second time performing in a show, her first being the role of Lydia in the play Pride and Prejudice, here at North Central. After graduation and getting married in June, Chenney plans to pursue God’s calling on her life as a worship leader/ teacher in Des Moines, Iowa. Chenney would like to thank her fiancé, family, and dearest friends for their love and support in this role and throughout the years.
Sarah Johnson (Munchkin Land City Mother/Father/Winkie/Ozian: Stuffer) is a freshman Youth, Children, and Family Ministries major. Previous work includes Betty in One Act Three Scenes/ Betty and crew for Little Shop of Horrors and The Music Man. Sarah wants to continue to pursue youth ministry, music, and theatre.
Ryan Knight (Tinman/Hickory) is a senior Music Recording Artist major. His most recent roles were Judas in Godspell, Mr. Wickham in Pride and Prejudice, and Lendall and Jimmy in Almost, Maine. Ryan will graduate in the spring and he doesn’t know where God is going to bring him. He does know that God has given him the gift of songwriting and music and he will be releasing music mid next year through a project called EVERYTHING IS OK, which is based around his experiences woven in with the verses of Psalms 16. Ryan would like to thank his parents, who have encouraged him to continue to do theatre and have always loved him and been there for him no matter what. He would also like to thank Wayne Matthews, who has been an amazing professor and has always pushed him to be the greatest he can be, on and off the stage. He also wants to thank Sydney Heitzman for understanding and loving him. Ryan also would like to thank his friends for being by his side. He also wants to thank God for holding him close in good and bad times, and for running after him.
Joseph Krube (The Wizard of Oz/ Professor Chester Marvel), a freshman at NCU, will major in Biblical and Theological Studies. Joseph was involved with his previous church’s Christmas musicals. His freshman year of high school, he was cast as Doc the Dwarf in a Christmas carol-fairy tale mash up musical. After having moved to Minnesota, he starred as both Cyrano de Bergerac and Hamlet in two separate fine arts competitions through St. Francis Christian School. Both oneacts won first place. He finished off his senior year of high school as the lead male role, Mr. Knightly, in the school’s play adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma. Joseph doesn’t know what he’ll do with his major yet, but is excited where God will lead him!
Bo Leake (Munchkin/Ozian/Winkie) is a 6th grader at Anoka Middle School for the Arts. This is his first time as a theater cast member but he loves seeing shows and singing musical theater songs. His current favorite show is Disney’s Descendants: The Musical which his older brother performed in at Anoka High School last spring. He’s really excited to be in The Wizard of Oz at NCU because he’ll get to share the stage with his sister, Ketzie. Bo hopes to be in many more musical theater productions in the future.
Ketzie Leake (Miss Gulch/Wicked Witch of the West) is a senior at North Central. She will be graduating this spring with an American Sign Language Interpreting degree and a Biblical Studies Minor. She was most recently seen in North Central’s production Almost, Maine as Jennette. Her other roles include Ensemble at Anoka High Schools productions of Hairspray, Footloose, James and the Giant Peach, Zorro The Musical, and The Wizard of Oz (Ironic). Ketzie’s future goals are to see what the Lord decides to do with her major and is excited to see where it leads. Ketzie wants to thank her parents for coming to all of her shows throughout her time performing. She
also wants to thank her younger brother Malachi for having a lead role in other shows so that she knows what to expect for her first lead role and her other brother Bo for participating in this production.
Nathan Luckow (Uncle Henry/ Emerald City Guard) is 19 years old and is a freshman studying Digital Media at North Central. This is Nathan’s 26th show, having previously been seen as Doctor Bennet in Big Fish, Demetrius in Midsummer Night’s Dream, among other roles. He hopes you enjoy the show!
Andrew Marbut (Scarecrow/Hunk) is a freshman majoring in Theatre. This is his debut on the NCU stage, although he is no stranger to this role, previously playing him in the spring. Some of his other credits include Gilbert Blythe in Anne of Green Gables: A New Musical, Mouse in Miss Nelson is Missing, and Tomatoa in Moana Jr. For eight years, he was involved with an international children’s theatre company based in Sucúa, Ecuador. He is grateful for the opportunity to join such an incredible cast in telling such a timeless story.
Marjorie Patchin (Munchkin Lollipop Guild/Poppy/Ozian/ Monkey) is a 3rd grader in South Minneapolis. She enjoys singing, gymnastics, fidgets, and playing with her two cats. While she has been in theater camp shows, The Wizard of Oz is her first full production. She is excited to play multiple characters, especially a Munchkin. When she grows up, Marjorie would like to be a singer.
Noelle Preston (Ensemble) is a sophomore Psychology major. Although this is her first performance with NCU, she has performed with Front Porch Musical Theatre where she played Old Sally in Oliver! and Miss Dinsmore in Singing in the Rain and many others. She also played one of the three bird girls in Seussical and The White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland with Kaleidoscope Performing Arts. She hopes to finish her
degree with NCU, become a licensed child therapist, and hopefully raise a family someday.
Bianca Rose (Zee/Cowardly Lion) is a senior Theatre Major. She just recently was Glory and Villian in North Central’s production of Almost, Maine. Her other previous roles include Juror 3 in 12 Angry Jurors, Judy in A Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, Miss Andrews in Mary Poppins, Mrs. Jennings and Fanny in Sense and Sensibility, and many other roles. After graduating, Bianca plans on continuing acting in the Minneapolis area. She also dreams of using theatre as a ministry as a playwright, director, and actress. She looks forward to see how God will use her passion in the future!
Shivan Stone (Munchkin/Winkie/ Poppy/Ozian) is in the 3rd Grade. Previous experience included Bethany Church Nativity play (multiple years) as toddler Jesus, ensemble angel, shepherd, sheep, and chicken (different years). Shivan dreams of being an engineer someday; however, he wants you to know that when he was little he wanted to be “a real stoplight.”
Maybe one day he’ll design one.
Jamie Stratton (Crow #2/Ensemble Member) is a senior majoring in Communication Arts and Business. She transferred to NCU last semester and performed in the spring production of Almost, Maine. Before transferring to NCU, she had been seen as Rosie in Mamma Mia and had acted in various other productions as well. After graduation, she hopes to pursue teaching English as a foreign language and is so grateful for her family, professors, and friends who have supported her since coming to North Central.
Xia Xee Lor (Chia) (Ensemble/Tree/ Ozian Polisher/Winkie) is a freshman on campus but technically a junior because she did PSEO. She’s double majoring in Business Administration & Apparels Technologies. This is her second performance with NCU as she got to play Georgianna in NCU’s production of Pride and Prejudice. She hopes to continue to be involved in Theater and other areas of theater (such as costumes) and share her gifts.
Theatre, at its core, is the art of telling people’s stories. As an educational program, the Theatre Department at North Central University seeks to equip our students with the ability to ask questions about faith and life, and to grapple with those stories that are different than our own. As a result, many characters in our productions do not reflect people who follow Christ. We do not always agree with these characters, but we wish to represent them honestly and with excellence. And it is in examining these characters—their histories, their convictions, their choices, and their responses to the world—that our students are challenged to develop discernment as artists who do follow Christ in a world that does not.