The Wizard of Oz

Being the Cowardly Lion by Nora DeMuth

I’m playing the Cowardly Lion this winter in our production of The Wizard of Oz. The Lion is my favorite character in the play, with his endearing bluster, his bravado, and his twitchy tail. I especially like how sincerely the Lion wishes to have courage and doesn’t realize how courageous he actually is. In fact, I see myself in the Lion, and when I learned I’d be playing the Lion, I found myself considering how I might have nerve that others can see but that I don’t recognize in myself. I also really enjoy playing a humorous part, both on stage and off, so the Lion will hopefully be bringing plenty of laughs to the audience. 

Being the Scarecrow by Charlie Walker

At the auditions for The Wizard of Oz it was pretty amazing. I was really excited when I was chosen for the part of the Scarecrow. 
Sometimes I make mistakes. Being the Scarecrow is hard work, dancing around and falling over, and also learning my lines and singing. 
But it is great fun working with all my friends on this musical. I can’t wait for the performance!

Being the Wicked Witch by Rosa Milne

I am enjoying playing the Wicked Witch in the Newton Dee production of The Wizard of Oz. In my family growing up we always watched the 1939 Hollywood film every Christmas and we even named our first dog Toto. The moment in the film when Dorothy arrives in Oz and everything is in colour was very impressive as a young child, and my sisters and I loved singing along (badly). Luckily for everyone the witch doesn’t sing. Of course when I was young I was terrified of the Witch but it is fun being evil for the sake of the play. The message of head, heart and spirit making up a person was also an important message growing up. Now I am studying mental health nursing and even in a lecture at the university they brought up the Wizard of Oz when discussing holistic care. It is a wonderful story and film that has been with me throughout my life and I’m very happy to be a part of Newton Dee’s production.
Being the Tin Man by Ali Baxter
First off, I like acting a lot. And I like singing. So I was really pleased when I was asked to perform in our musical production for Christmas this year - The Wizard of Oz - in a singing and acting role. 
I am playing the Tin Man. He is my favourite character because he is sentimental and carries an axe and helps Dorothy escape the Wicked Witch’s castle.
I sometimes find it hard to get the right tone of voice for the Tin Man. He is all rusted up at first, but later he can speak perfectly well. I usually like the support of a microphone, but I am practising speaking louder, and with lots of emotion.
I hope the performance goes well. I am really looking forward to it!

Being Dorothy By Emma Millar

I play the part of Dorothy in our Christmas production of The Wizard of Oz this year. What it means to me to play this most central part is the difference between her and the other leading characters – the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion.  They are each very different from each other.  
I want to learn and take away with me from the part of Dorothy just what is most important about her in relation to the others. I want to discover her character in what she does and says at certain times in the play. 
It is quite daunting at times to portray someone like Dorothy, who is sometimes good and sometimes not so good.  But she is mostly good and she has a lot of courage. She is always kind to the others, even to the Wicked Witch, but she is especially kind to her little dog Toto.
I worry a lot that I might get it wrong sometimes. But I’m really looking forward to doing it on stage with all the music and lights, costumes and props. It’s going to be a lot of fun.
I also have to sing a lot in the play, such as the famous songs “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”, and  “We’re Off To See The Wizard”. I love singing. It feels good to be Dorothy and I can’t wait to show our play to everyone at Christmas.