West Point Ballet and Utah Theatre Ballet
proudly present:
The Wizard of Oz
Performance Program
Story Synopsis
Dorothy lives with her Auntie Em on a Kansas farm. She daydreams constantly about going "Over the Rainbow.” Miss Gulch, a nasty neighbor, almost hits Dorothy's dog Toto with her bike. Miss Gulch gets upset with the pair and they run back home.
Dorothy immediately returns home with Toto, only to find a tornado approaching. Along with her house and Toto, she's swept from her farm to the magical, beautiful, dangerous and technicolor land of Oz. The tornado drops Dorothy's house on the Wicked Witch of the East, killing her. The good witch of the North, named Glinda, appears to ask Dorothy if she is a good witch or a bad witch because the munchkins in the city of Munchkinland are worried. The Wicked Witch of the West who is the sister of the dead witch, threatens Dorothy. But Glinda gives Dorothy the dead witch's enchanted Ruby Red Slippers, and the slippers protect her. The Munchkins are overjoyed and celebrate. Glinda advises that if Dorothy wants to go home to Kansas, she should seek the aid of the Wizard of Oz, who lives in the Emerald City. To get there, Dorothy sets off down the Yellow Brick Road.
Before she's followed the road very far, Dorothy meets a talking scarecrow whose dearest wish is to have a brain. Hoping that the wizard can help him, the Scarecrow joins Dorothy on her journey. They come upon the Tin Woodman who was caught in the rain and is so rusty he can't move. When they oil his joints so he can walk and talk again, he confesses that he longs for a heart; he too joins Dorothy. As they walk through a dense forest, they encounter the Cowardly Lion, who wishes for courage and joins the quest in the hope that the wizard will give him some.
On the way to the Emerald City, Dorothy and her friends are hindered and menaced by the Wicked Witch of the West. Within sight of the city, the witch conjures up a field of poppies that cause Dorothy, Toto, and the lion to fall asleep. Gloria the Good Witch saves them by making it snow, which counteracts the effects of the poppies.
The four travelers marvel at the wonders they find in the Emerald City and take time to freshen up: Dorothy, Toto and the Lion have their hair done, the Tin Woodman gets polished, and the scarecrow receives an infusion of fresh straw stuffing. Looking spiffy, they finally see the Wizard. He declines to help them until they bring him the broomstick of the Wicked Witch of the West. Daunted but determined, they set off again.
The witch sends winged monkeys to attack Dorothy's party before they reach her castle; the monkeys snatch Dorothy and scatter the others. The witch finds that the Ruby Slippers can't be taken against Dorothy's will as long as the girl is alive. Meanwhile, Toto has snuck away from the monkeys capture, and helps the others escape to find Dorothy. The Lion, the Tin Man, Toto, and the Scarecrow sneak into the castle and free Dorothy. They're discovered before they can escape, however, and the witch and her guards corner them. Dorothy douses the witch with a pail of water on top of her balcony, The water causes the witch to fall off of her balcony and she disintegrates mid air, The guards are happy to let Dorothy have the witch's broomstick, and Dorothy and her friends return to the Emerald City.
The wizard is pleased to see them again. He is surprised that they actually pulled off bringing him the witch’s broomstick. With the help of the Ozian Officials the Wizard quickly finds ways to help Dorothy's friends: a diploma for the Scarecrow, a medal of valor for the Lion, and a testimonial heart-shaped necklace for the Tin Man. Then he reveals that he's from Kansas himself and came to Oz over the rainbow.
Glinda appears and the wizard explains that he is unsure how to get Dorothy back home. Glinda explains that Dorothy has always had the power to get home, points to the slippers, Bidding her friends a tearful good-bye, Dorothy taps her Ruby Red Slippers together three times. Over the rainbow dancers appear with balloons to take her and Toto back to Kansas.
Dorothy immediately returns home with Toto, only to find a tornado approaching. Along with her house and Toto, she's swept from her farm to the magical, beautiful, dangerous and technicolor land of Oz. The tornado drops Dorothy's house on the Wicked Witch of the East, killing her. The good witch of the North, named Glinda, appears to ask Dorothy if she is a good witch or a bad witch because the munchkins in the city of Munchkinland are worried. The Wicked Witch of the West who is the sister of the dead witch, threatens Dorothy. But Glinda gives Dorothy the dead witch's enchanted Ruby Red Slippers, and the slippers protect her. The Munchkins are overjoyed and celebrate. Glinda advises that if Dorothy wants to go home to Kansas, she should seek the aid of the Wizard of Oz, who lives in the Emerald City. To get there, Dorothy sets off down the Yellow Brick Road.
Before she's followed the road very far, Dorothy meets a talking scarecrow whose dearest wish is to have a brain. Hoping that the wizard can help him, the Scarecrow joins Dorothy on her journey. They come upon the Tin Woodman who was caught in the rain and is so rusty he can't move. When they oil his joints so he can walk and talk again, he confesses that he longs for a heart; he too joins Dorothy. As they walk through a dense forest, they encounter the Cowardly Lion, who wishes for courage and joins the quest in the hope that the wizard will give him some.
On the way to the Emerald City, Dorothy and her friends are hindered and menaced by the Wicked Witch of the West. Within sight of the city, the witch conjures up a field of poppies that cause Dorothy, Toto, and the lion to fall asleep. Gloria the Good Witch saves them by making it snow, which counteracts the effects of the poppies.
The four travelers marvel at the wonders they find in the Emerald City and take time to freshen up: Dorothy, Toto and the Lion have their hair done, the Tin Woodman gets polished, and the scarecrow receives an infusion of fresh straw stuffing. Looking spiffy, they finally see the Wizard. He declines to help them until they bring him the broomstick of the Wicked Witch of the West. Daunted but determined, they set off again.
The witch sends winged monkeys to attack Dorothy's party before they reach her castle; the monkeys snatch Dorothy and scatter the others. The witch finds that the Ruby Slippers can't be taken against Dorothy's will as long as the girl is alive. Meanwhile, Toto has snuck away from the monkeys capture, and helps the others escape to find Dorothy. The Lion, the Tin Man, Toto, and the Scarecrow sneak into the castle and free Dorothy. They're discovered before they can escape, however, and the witch and her guards corner them. Dorothy douses the witch with a pail of water on top of her balcony, The water causes the witch to fall off of her balcony and she disintegrates mid air, The guards are happy to let Dorothy have the witch's broomstick, and Dorothy and her friends return to the Emerald City.
The wizard is pleased to see them again. He is surprised that they actually pulled off bringing him the witch’s broomstick. With the help of the Ozian Officials the Wizard quickly finds ways to help Dorothy's friends: a diploma for the Scarecrow, a medal of valor for the Lion, and a testimonial heart-shaped necklace for the Tin Man. Then he reveals that he's from Kansas himself and came to Oz over the rainbow.
Glinda appears and the wizard explains that he is unsure how to get Dorothy back home. Glinda explains that Dorothy has always had the power to get home, points to the slippers, Bidding her friends a tearful good-bye, Dorothy taps her Ruby Red Slippers together three times. Over the rainbow dancers appear with balloons to take her and Toto back to Kansas.
Casting
Lead and Featured Roles
Dorothy Gale................................................. Abigale Perry; understudy Mercedes Stout
Elphaba the Wicked Witch of the West.....Mercedes Stout; understudy Kaidence Vance
Auntie Em / Glinda the Good Witch.......................Lindsey Bingham; understudy Andrea Holker
Wizard of Oz...........................................Elijah Hatch
Scarecrow................................................Andrea Holker; understudy Paisley Crookston
Tin Man....................................................Kaidence Vance (6/01), Leah Frandsen (6/02)
Cowardly Lion ......................................Morgan Reid; understudy Naomi Galke
Toto...........................................................Carson McIntosh; understudy Emily Spafford
Almira Gulch........................................Paisley Crookston; understudy Lola Firpo
Farmers...................................................Audrey Glad, Tetonia Wang, Amillya McCain, Kate Wadsworth
Sheep......................................................Abri Pollastro, Millie Katherine Atkinson, Abigail Hall
Cows........................................................Sicily Savage, Amelia Nilsson
Wicked Witch of the East.................Penelope Slaugh
Munchkin Mayor...............................Naomi Galke; understudy Lila Gardner
Deputy Mayor.....................................Abigail Walker; understudy Julia Michaelis
Lollipop Guild.....................................Cara Hicks, Julia Michaelis, Isabella Williams, Abigail Walker, Rosalynn Gomez
Crows.......................................................Abigail Desmond, Clara Mitchell, Penelope Mitchell
Tiger..........................................................Eliza Walker; understudy Elise Stout
Bear............................................................Scarlett Shamy
Princess Poppy...................................Leah Frandsen (6/01), Alyssa Bingham (6/02)
Gloria the Good Witch....................Alyssa Bingham; understudy Lindsey Bingham
Snow......................................................Emery Wilhite, Paige Segura, Eunika Wang, Mya Brown, Finley Stewart, Fiona Hansen
Witch Soldiers...................................Makiah Bateman, Jenna Hansen, Madelyn Dubach
Ozian Officials.....................................Kali Kirton, Penelope Slaugh, Lola Firpo, Elise Daw, Alyssa Bingham, Paisley Crookston, Naomi Galke, Avery Child, Lilliana Baker, Mahayla Chappell, Lilly Miller, Emily Spafford, Chloe Barker
Over the Rainbows............................Eden Dunn, Maddison Davis, Hallie Dixon, Dilainey Hinojos, Ella Morrell, Cora Slack, Sydney Sampson
Corps de ballet
*Twister: Full cast
*Munchkins: Amillya McCain, Chloe Barker, Clara Mitchell, Cora Slack, Eden Dunn, Elise Stout, Eliza Walker, Fiona Hansen, Maddison Davis, Makenna Rollins, Millie Katherine Atkinson, Rosalynn Gomez, Tetonia Wang, Tracie Porter
*Lead Munchkins: Lucy Dean, Baylor Higgs; understudies Tracie Porter, Tetonia Wang
*Lullabye League: Abri Pollastro, Cara Hicks, Dilainey Hinojos, Eleanor Broadbent, Ella Morrell, Finley Stewart, Isabella Williams, Julia Michaelis, Mya Brown
*Lead Lullabye League: Amberlyn Harrison; understudy Dilainey Hinojos
*Yellow Brick Roadies: Alysha Wayman, Bronte Perez, Emery Wilhite, Eunika Wang, Jillian Hinckley, Kate Wadsworth, Paige Segura, Penelope Mitchell, Rose Burrell, Scarlett Shamy, Sophia Andoh
*Lead Yellow Brick Roadies: Emma Burton, Braelyn Skowronek; understudies Alysha Wayman, Jillian Hinckley
*Poppies: Abigail Walker, Abigail Desmond, Amelia Nilsson, Hallie Dixon, Lucy Chipman, Sicily Savage
*Lead Poppy: Charlotte Ten Eyck; understudy Hallie Dixon
*Emerald Ozmites: Abigail Hall, Audrey Glad, Avery Child, Emily Spafford, Kali Kirton, Lilly Miller, Mahayla Chappell, Penelope Slaugh, Sydney Sampson
*Lead Emerald Ozmites: Heidi Davidson, Edie Denet; understudies Audrey Glad, Lilly Miller
*Flying Monkeys: Brooklyn LaMela, Elise Daw, Jenna Hansen, Lilliana Baker, Lola Firpo, Madelyn Dubach, Makiah Bateman
*Lead Flying Monkeys: Lila Gardner, Tayli Greenhalgh; understudies Jenna Hansen, Makiah Bateman
Lead and Featured Roles
Dorothy Gale................................................. Abigale Perry; understudy Mercedes Stout
Elphaba the Wicked Witch of the West.....Mercedes Stout; understudy Kaidence Vance
Auntie Em / Glinda the Good Witch.......................Lindsey Bingham; understudy Andrea Holker
Wizard of Oz...........................................Elijah Hatch
Scarecrow................................................Andrea Holker; understudy Paisley Crookston
Tin Man....................................................Kaidence Vance (6/01), Leah Frandsen (6/02)
Cowardly Lion ......................................Morgan Reid; understudy Naomi Galke
Toto...........................................................Carson McIntosh; understudy Emily Spafford
Almira Gulch........................................Paisley Crookston; understudy Lola Firpo
Farmers...................................................Audrey Glad, Tetonia Wang, Amillya McCain, Kate Wadsworth
Sheep......................................................Abri Pollastro, Millie Katherine Atkinson, Abigail Hall
Cows........................................................Sicily Savage, Amelia Nilsson
Wicked Witch of the East.................Penelope Slaugh
Munchkin Mayor...............................Naomi Galke; understudy Lila Gardner
Deputy Mayor.....................................Abigail Walker; understudy Julia Michaelis
Lollipop Guild.....................................Cara Hicks, Julia Michaelis, Isabella Williams, Abigail Walker, Rosalynn Gomez
Crows.......................................................Abigail Desmond, Clara Mitchell, Penelope Mitchell
Tiger..........................................................Eliza Walker; understudy Elise Stout
Bear............................................................Scarlett Shamy
Princess Poppy...................................Leah Frandsen (6/01), Alyssa Bingham (6/02)
Gloria the Good Witch....................Alyssa Bingham; understudy Lindsey Bingham
Snow......................................................Emery Wilhite, Paige Segura, Eunika Wang, Mya Brown, Finley Stewart, Fiona Hansen
Witch Soldiers...................................Makiah Bateman, Jenna Hansen, Madelyn Dubach
Ozian Officials.....................................Kali Kirton, Penelope Slaugh, Lola Firpo, Elise Daw, Alyssa Bingham, Paisley Crookston, Naomi Galke, Avery Child, Lilliana Baker, Mahayla Chappell, Lilly Miller, Emily Spafford, Chloe Barker
Over the Rainbows............................Eden Dunn, Maddison Davis, Hallie Dixon, Dilainey Hinojos, Ella Morrell, Cora Slack, Sydney Sampson
Corps de ballet
*Twister: Full cast
*Munchkins: Amillya McCain, Chloe Barker, Clara Mitchell, Cora Slack, Eden Dunn, Elise Stout, Eliza Walker, Fiona Hansen, Maddison Davis, Makenna Rollins, Millie Katherine Atkinson, Rosalynn Gomez, Tetonia Wang, Tracie Porter
*Lead Munchkins: Lucy Dean, Baylor Higgs; understudies Tracie Porter, Tetonia Wang
*Lullabye League: Abri Pollastro, Cara Hicks, Dilainey Hinojos, Eleanor Broadbent, Ella Morrell, Finley Stewart, Isabella Williams, Julia Michaelis, Mya Brown
*Lead Lullabye League: Amberlyn Harrison; understudy Dilainey Hinojos
*Yellow Brick Roadies: Alysha Wayman, Bronte Perez, Emery Wilhite, Eunika Wang, Jillian Hinckley, Kate Wadsworth, Paige Segura, Penelope Mitchell, Rose Burrell, Scarlett Shamy, Sophia Andoh
*Lead Yellow Brick Roadies: Emma Burton, Braelyn Skowronek; understudies Alysha Wayman, Jillian Hinckley
*Poppies: Abigail Walker, Abigail Desmond, Amelia Nilsson, Hallie Dixon, Lucy Chipman, Sicily Savage
*Lead Poppy: Charlotte Ten Eyck; understudy Hallie Dixon
*Emerald Ozmites: Abigail Hall, Audrey Glad, Avery Child, Emily Spafford, Kali Kirton, Lilly Miller, Mahayla Chappell, Penelope Slaugh, Sydney Sampson
*Lead Emerald Ozmites: Heidi Davidson, Edie Denet; understudies Audrey Glad, Lilly Miller
*Flying Monkeys: Brooklyn LaMela, Elise Daw, Jenna Hansen, Lilliana Baker, Lola Firpo, Madelyn Dubach, Makiah Bateman
*Lead Flying Monkeys: Lila Gardner, Tayli Greenhalgh; understudies Jenna Hansen, Makiah Bateman
Guest Artist
Elijah Hatch
Wizard of Oz
Utah Theatre Ballet
Abigale Perry
|
Kaidence Vance
|
Lindsey Bingham
|
Utah Theatre Ballet 2
Leah Frandsen
|
Naomi Galke
|
Paisley Crookston
|
Alyssa Bingham
|
Andrea Holker
Scarecrow
Production Acknowledgments
Artistic Director: Juliana Vorkink Martin
Associate Director of Performances: Hannah Hurd
Choreography: West Point Ballet Faculty
Music: Matthew Pierce, Harold Arlen, Herbert Stothart
Special thanks to...
*Our incredible faculty: Juliana Vorkink Martin, Hannah Hurd, Sharlee Peay, Lisa Vorkink, Madyson Wurtzbaucher, Kalise Child, Shelley Rollins, Brianna Schetzel, Jessi Salter, Tali Vorkink and Carole Bingham
*All of our parents, parent volunteers, chaperones and backstage helpers
*Guest artists: Elijah Hatch, Dusty Stout
*Lighting Designer: Glenn Linder
*Sound Engineer: Daniel Bunker
*Musical edits: Erik Vorkink
*Flymen: Zander Levy and
*Head Costume Designer and Lead Seamstress: Nikki Stout
*Wardrobe Assistant and seamstress: Annie Walker
*Stage and Production Manager: Lisa Vorkink
*Hallway Managers: GeriLynn Vorkink, Ashley Chappell
*Volunteer Manager: Carolyn Nottingham
*Volunteer Coordinator: Carole Bingham
*Floor installation: Mike Martin, Ben Chappell, Brandan Slack
*Videographer: Matt Hepworth
*Photographer: Sharlee Peay Photography
*Propmasters: Breece Perry, Roger Snow
*Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center Event Manager: Tyler Smith
*Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center Technical Director: Doug Parkin
*Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center staff
*ArtTix staff
Artistic Director: Juliana Vorkink Martin
Associate Director of Performances: Hannah Hurd
Choreography: West Point Ballet Faculty
Music: Matthew Pierce, Harold Arlen, Herbert Stothart
Special thanks to...
*Our incredible faculty: Juliana Vorkink Martin, Hannah Hurd, Sharlee Peay, Lisa Vorkink, Madyson Wurtzbaucher, Kalise Child, Shelley Rollins, Brianna Schetzel, Jessi Salter, Tali Vorkink and Carole Bingham
*All of our parents, parent volunteers, chaperones and backstage helpers
*Guest artists: Elijah Hatch, Dusty Stout
*Lighting Designer: Glenn Linder
*Sound Engineer: Daniel Bunker
*Musical edits: Erik Vorkink
*Flymen: Zander Levy and
*Head Costume Designer and Lead Seamstress: Nikki Stout
*Wardrobe Assistant and seamstress: Annie Walker
*Stage and Production Manager: Lisa Vorkink
*Hallway Managers: GeriLynn Vorkink, Ashley Chappell
*Volunteer Manager: Carolyn Nottingham
*Volunteer Coordinator: Carole Bingham
*Floor installation: Mike Martin, Ben Chappell, Brandan Slack
*Videographer: Matt Hepworth
*Photographer: Sharlee Peay Photography
*Propmasters: Breece Perry, Roger Snow
*Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center Event Manager: Tyler Smith
*Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center Technical Director: Doug Parkin
*Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center staff
*ArtTix staff
A note from the Artistic Director
Dear family, friends, and supporters,
Welcome to our performances of The Wizard of Oz! I am thrilled that you are in attendance to support our incredible dancers. We are excited to be back, performing again in the state-of-the-art theater here at the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center. We are fortunate to perform here and delighted to have a professional crew running the shows. I hope you will enjoy the performance in this professional facility. The Wizard of Oz is our third set of performances this school year and dare I say, we have saved the best for last!
Re-envisioning such a classic and well-known story can be a daunting creative task. Like any of our performances, my goal with The Wizard of Oz was to challenge our dancers abilities technically and artistically, while giving them opportunities to help tell this beloved story. The Wizard of Oz has been on my artistic 'to-do' list for many years. When I discovered the newly released original ballet score by composer Matthew Pierce, I knew it was time to bring this story to life. I am so impressed with our dancers and the artistic prowess they have demonstrated in this ballet. Can you believe that it was just two years ago that our first-ever story ballet, Peter and The Wolf, debuted? Since then we have performed The Nutcracker twice, Hansel and Gretel last May, and Pointe CounterPointe earlier this year. Many of your dancers have participated in all of these performances, and wow, they have grown! I am in awe with the progress, passion, and persistence of our students. They inspire and motivate me to proverbially 'up the ante' with each performance. I am grateful to have a faculty that supports all of my ambitions for West Point Ballet. I am so proud of each and every one of our dancers. I sincerely thank you for entrusting your dancers with us. It is a privilege to teach and coach them in the art of classical ballet.
I would like to thank my amazing faculty for their time, talents, and energy. Their creativity, vision, and problem-solving skills are unparalleled. We wouldn’t be here without the class moms and other volunteers for contributing their time this week. I also need to recognize many members of my own family for their continued support and manpower to help these performances be successful. Thank you to my husband Mike, without whom West Point Ballet would surely not exist in any form. Finally, thank you parents for your faith in me and support of this program. This has been an amazing ride and I am looking forward to what's to come for West Point Ballet in the upcoming 2023-2024 year.
Enjoy The Wizard of Oz!
Sincerely,
Juliana Vorkink Martin
Owner and Artistic Director of West Point Ballet
Artistic Director of Utah Theatre Ballet
Dear family, friends, and supporters,
Welcome to our performances of The Wizard of Oz! I am thrilled that you are in attendance to support our incredible dancers. We are excited to be back, performing again in the state-of-the-art theater here at the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center. We are fortunate to perform here and delighted to have a professional crew running the shows. I hope you will enjoy the performance in this professional facility. The Wizard of Oz is our third set of performances this school year and dare I say, we have saved the best for last!
Re-envisioning such a classic and well-known story can be a daunting creative task. Like any of our performances, my goal with The Wizard of Oz was to challenge our dancers abilities technically and artistically, while giving them opportunities to help tell this beloved story. The Wizard of Oz has been on my artistic 'to-do' list for many years. When I discovered the newly released original ballet score by composer Matthew Pierce, I knew it was time to bring this story to life. I am so impressed with our dancers and the artistic prowess they have demonstrated in this ballet. Can you believe that it was just two years ago that our first-ever story ballet, Peter and The Wolf, debuted? Since then we have performed The Nutcracker twice, Hansel and Gretel last May, and Pointe CounterPointe earlier this year. Many of your dancers have participated in all of these performances, and wow, they have grown! I am in awe with the progress, passion, and persistence of our students. They inspire and motivate me to proverbially 'up the ante' with each performance. I am grateful to have a faculty that supports all of my ambitions for West Point Ballet. I am so proud of each and every one of our dancers. I sincerely thank you for entrusting your dancers with us. It is a privilege to teach and coach them in the art of classical ballet.
I would like to thank my amazing faculty for their time, talents, and energy. Their creativity, vision, and problem-solving skills are unparalleled. We wouldn’t be here without the class moms and other volunteers for contributing their time this week. I also need to recognize many members of my own family for their continued support and manpower to help these performances be successful. Thank you to my husband Mike, without whom West Point Ballet would surely not exist in any form. Finally, thank you parents for your faith in me and support of this program. This has been an amazing ride and I am looking forward to what's to come for West Point Ballet in the upcoming 2023-2024 year.
Enjoy The Wizard of Oz!
Sincerely,
Juliana Vorkink Martin
Owner and Artistic Director of West Point Ballet
Artistic Director of Utah Theatre Ballet