In my (almost) seventeen years of life, I’ve escaped the universal experience of being forcibly sat in front of a TV and left to distract myself with The Wizard of Oz. 

I had no idea the film transitioned from black-and-white picture to color or the infamous tornado that placed her in Oz; my only understanding of the film came from the accidental spoiler.

However, I bought two tickets to see FHC Theatre’s musical rendition of The Wizard of Oz anyways, followed by a lengthy explanation of the premise and importance of the film an hour later. 

Still, my knowledge of the film heading into the musical was not excellent, but this year’s spring musical was magnificently performed, yet again, by the incredible cast members. With every show the theater puts on, I walk away loving every second, exceptionally anticipating the next one. From the brilliant talent it takes for the show to go on, I’ve never been disappointed. 

When the lights dimmed, we were met with junior Paige Harsevoort as Dorothy before she sang her musical solo, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” as a charming first introduction to The Wizard of Oz. another part of the movie I was blindly unaware of. 

My only real spoiler of the show came from junior Josie Butler calling a minute before the show started to tell us she was head-to-toe in pink glitter and had a crown. Five minutes later, from the left top corner of the set, she drifts in on a bubble with a pink tulle princess dress and a magic wand. 

On the opposite side of the witch spectrum, junior Gia Monterusso establishes the duality between the witches’ personalities and mannerisms as the hateful and bitter antagonist. In the first ten minutes, I realize the close details the actors follow and begin to enjoy the show.

The spring musical felt cohesive in the fact the characters kept life in the Fine Arts Center by never losing steam in the storyline and staying confident in a great show. With each scene or event, the mood and direction of the scene changed, however, it remained closely connected to Dorothy and the friends she finds along the way. 

Sophomore Toby Cameron as ‘Tin Man’, senior Everett Phipps as ‘Cowardly Lion,’ and senior Jack Manchesky as ‘Scarecrow’ brought immense energy to the stage once their characters were introduced. The dynamic of this adventurous, newfound friendship and some problem-solving put me in a place where I began to love the four personas as a group. As I watch clips from the 1939 production, the three different portrayals of each original character were perfect, and overall, the four felt united and masterful in their creation. 

While the skillful acting is almost entirely what I focused on and adored most about the show, the realistic Broadway set added an element of surprise for me and only me, probably. Because the movie is not as big of a convoluted mystery to me, the vivid sets and dancers helped me not only piece together what was happening, but to also appreciate the fact they were not just “in the background.” 

Their talent wasn’t hidden as the poppies, Ozians, trees, crows, munchkins, and jitterbugs had outstanding scenes and executed their choreography gloriously. These kinds of roles are my favorite each year I come back because I enjoy every second of the lively movement and dramatic effects that create an animated masterpiece. 

Though I expect nothing less from FHC Theatre than a show this grandiose, I was stunned to see the show come to an end. From the ethereal performance to each and every one bedecked in color and charisma, the 2023 Spring Musical The Wizard of Oz was a beautiful way to end show season, as it was my favorite one by far.