The Iconic red ruby slippers that Dorothy wears in The Wizard of Oz is a representation of the enduring symbol of the power of belief. That is why I am so excited that we are able to tell this story now. Frank Baum created such a vibrant, symbolic world for us to journey through in our imaginations, allowing us to see the world of Oz through the powerful, innocent eyes of a child. Although he intended the story for children, he understood that, as adults, we often feel small and alone in our own personal journeys, especially in the face of adversity. For me, children seem to hold a bit of magic, and I believe this is because of their openness and vulnerability. They look up to adults to teach and help them. I am reminded of this daily with my own children, especially my daughter(who is also in the show), but as adults we lose that vulnerability in fear of appearing weak. We turn to technology for help more than we turn to each other, often leaving us feeling alone and isolated, and with those feelings, our familiar world often becomes distorted, sometimes wonderful, but often scary. However, Dorothy doesn’t travel down the yellow brick road alone. We’re reminded of the necessity and power of friendship. With courage, compassion, thoughtfulness and unwavering belief, there isn’t an obstacle we can’t overcome together. This journey down the yellow brick road would not be complete without the outstanding collorboration of all our fine arts team. From the magical sounds of the orchestra, to the vision and creativity of our Technical Theatre program. We have spent countless hours in rehearsals, dance calls, technical build days, and tonight you can finally see the fruits of our labor. Thank you to Lily Sherman, our chorographer who spent so much time making sure the dances in the show looked fantastic. Thank you Mike Buntyn for the time and energy working with our vocalists. Thanks to John Davenport, who is by far the most outstanding Tech Director in the world. Thank you Paul Vanderpool and the extremely talented musicians, who bring out the beauty of this iconic score. Finally, I would finally like to thank all of our Student Directors, Stage Managers, and Cast and Crew for all that they have sacrifced to be a part of this show. Thank you to Derek Willingham and our LTHS Theatre booster club who are the most supportive group of parents on earth. We would also like to thank our family and friends who allow us to do what we love to do. We hope you enjoy going over the rainbow with us.
-Michael Hollomon
