Pulling Back the Curtain 

The realities of being a theater kid

Opening night is less than a week away, and I’m thrilled. 

Riverside’s spring musical is The Wizard of Oz. It’s a show based on the 1900s children’s book. The most popular adaptation of this show, starring Judy Garland, was the 1939 film version. 

It follows Dorothy Gale, a young girl who is swept away to the magical land of Oz by a cyclone with her dog, Toto. In her quest to return home to Kansas, Dorothy encounters the Scarecrow, the Tinman, and the Cowardly Lion, each seeking something they lack. Together, they journey to the Emerald City to meet the Wizard, learning important lessons about courage, friendship, and self-discovery along the way.

We have been auditioning, rehearsing, and preparing for this musical since January, and the process is not all sunshine and rainbows. 

To be part of a Riverside musical you must go through the audition process, which includes a short monologue, a sixteen to thirty-two measure song, and a full dance audition. The monologue and song parts are one-on-one with Mrs. Taylor and Mrs. Boliek, and the dance portion is with all the people who are auditioning. 

Once initial auditions were over, callbacks began. For The Wizard of Oz, almost everyone was asked to come back for a second round. The callback portion was even more nerve-racking than my first audition. Our directors pulled small groups of selected actors to read through a scene together and tell us who they wanted us to read for in that particular scene. This process went on for about two hours. 

A week after auditions and callbacks happened, the final cast list was announced. I got the role of Dorothy. 

The same week the cast list was posted we held a full cast read-through, where we read the entire script without stopping. Once we finished this, we started regular rehearsals where we blocked, choreographed and rehearsed the entire show. 

Dorothy is a bubbly and compassionate character, packed full of energy and emotion. Playing such an emotional character, I often find myself relating to her struggles and determination. In the beginning, I thought the only thing I had in common with Dorothy was her hair, but as I rehearsed and put myself into the character I realized that I resonate with her in so many ways. For example, her perseverance when it comes to the things she loves, her adversity against things that she perceives as wrong and her constant loyalty to people that she loves. 

The show opens on April 18 and runs all weekend. When you come out to see it, don’t just pay attention to the actors. Ensure you notice the amazing sets built by our crew and the great light production set by our light crew.  

A big thanks out to our wonderful directors, cast and crew. This show could not go on without them. As well as a big shout out to our three senior actors Claire Leslie, Seamus Millet and Madison Pearce.