Tracy Press

After months of preparation, middle school students say they're up to the task of recreating the magical world of Oz.

Poet Christian School students Marlon Bowen (FROM left) Samantha Pyne, Donna Rotella, Daniel Pacheco and Joshua Stiborek run through a scene from the the drama class production of “The Wizard of Oz.” Glenn Moore/Tracy Press

Poet Christian Elementary School will present a sophisticated production of the "Wizard of Oz" this week, complete with a student-run technical crew and an orchestra accompaniment.

Drama teacher Pam Tillman hosted auditions in January and divvied the fifth- through eighth-graders — 65 students in all — into two casts. The young actors shook out any stage fright this week when they performed for their fellow Poet Christian students.

They invite the public to two evening performances Thursday and Friday.

A school volunteer, Synthia Zimmerman, designed and built the extravagant set, which transformed the school’s multipurpose room into an enchanting land, complete with a yellow brick road.

The casts have been enthralled in the beloved story for the past three months. They practiced in drama class each day since February and then, when showtime drew nearer, moved practices to before and after school.

Eighth-grader Marlon Bowen has religiously watched the classic film to study the personality of the scarecrow, who he transforms into on stage.

"I knew he was really silly," said Marlon, while he sat in his costume Friday. "I tried to mix that in with my lines."

Tillman said she tried to draw in the local audience by tweaking a few lines like Dorothy’s famous plea, "there’s no place like home," to "there’s no place like Tracy."

Tillman said she wanted the production to go beyond what most would expect from middle school students. So she invited the school’s band and orchestra to play alongside the actors instead of simply playing recorded music on a CD. Plus, she assigned students to run the lights, the sound and the stage.

"My goal is to involve as may students as possible," Tillman said. "The whole idea is for them to participate in every part of it. This is their play."

At a glance

WHAT: Poet-Christian Elementary School presents "Wizard of Oz"

WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday

WHERE: Poet-Christian Elementary, 1701 S. Central Ave.

COST: $5 for reserved seats; $3 general admission

INFO: 831-5252

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