What did you learn on your journey down the Yellow Brick Road?

Fostering creative collaboration to realize a common goal.

What did you learn on your journey down the Yellow Brick Road?

Gabe puts on his lion costume for his role in the school play, the Wizard of Oz. He practices a cowardly lion pose. Then he switches persona and gives a courageous roar. At the same time, Gigi in her scarecrow costume, does the floppy-sack-of-straw walk she learned from the acting coach. Both have become their characters.

“I really like the weight of this mane,” observes Gabe. “We started our rehearsals in our regular clothes, but now that put on these ornate costumes, with professional support, the whole team really stepped up to meet the show’s heightened production quality.”

“The younger students played a number of characters,” Gigi adds. “The Lollipop Guild, the flying monkeys, they really got into their roles! When it all came together on opening night, the lights, the pit band, the full house, that’s when we realized we were part of something big.”

Once every five years, the Middle and Senior School join together to stage a musical. This year’s iconic Wizard of Oz gave each student a chance to be part of a larger-than-life spectacular production.

In the familiar foursome’s journey to the Emerald City, there are character traits necessary for excellence—the need to improve, fine-tune and pivot along the journey. Like Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow and the Tin Man, we are taught that you need courage, passion and brains to succeed.

Perhaps Dorothy possesses the character attributes most resembling a York student. She’s adventurous, open minded, perseveres in difficult circumstances and networks with respect and grace. Her sense of hope helps others in troubled times. Most intriguing, she has power, albeit unknown to her until the tale’s end.

Whether they were centre stage, in the ensemble, doing hair and makeup, painting the set or making costumes, the professional staff’s dedication and the students’ commitment – not to mention the big publicity, and big crowd – provided the fantastic opportunity to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Gigi and Gabe are unsure where the metaphorical Yellow Brick Road will take them on their careers, but they know theatre will be a constant in their lives. From this experience, they obtained the character traits necessary for excellence, confident to step onto the stage and shine.

By providing theatre-quality costumes, a dynamic set (with a flying house!), stage and lighting, and band accompaniment, The York School Fund helped professionalize the production for the actors and a well-orchestrated and enjoyable musical for the school community.

The Fund also contributed to a new drama room with moveable staging for future students to act, sing and play.