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We’re not in Canfield anymore
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The cast of Canfield Village Middle School’s spring production of “OZ: I Have a Feeling We’re Not In Canfield Anymore.” The play, adapted by CVMS drama teacher Kandace Cleland, was a new look at Frank Baum’s classic infused with Motown music.
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Neighbors | Submitted.The cast of Canfield Village Middle School’s “OZ: I Have A Feeling We’re Not In Canfield Anymore” formed their own rainbow in tribute to the classic song “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
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Emma Hartshorn portrayed Good Witch Belinda in Canfield Village Middle School’s spring production of “OZ: I Have a Feeling We’re Not In Canfield Anymore.”
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Annie Vallas played Almira, Wicked Witch of the West, in Canfield Village Middle School’s spring production of “OZ: I Have a Feeling We’re Not In Canfield Anymore.”
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Members of the cast of Canfield Village Middle School’s “OZ: I Have A Feeling We’re Not In Canfield Anymore” were all smiles after their performance at Canfield High School.
By ABBY SLANKER
Attendees of Canfield Village Middle School’s spring production of “OZ: I Have a Feeling We’re Not In Canfield Anymore” really had a feeling there weren’t in Canfield anymore.
The play, adapted by CVMS drama teacher Kandace Cleland, was a new look at Frank Baum’s classic infused with Motown music.
“My biggest wish is that the audience consider this evening’s trip to OZ with new eyes. I hope you enjoy flying over the rainbow with CVMS eighth-grader Dot Gale and that you will talk about her updated adventure. Thank you for supporting our wonderful student actors and crew — there really is ‘no place like Canfield,’” Cleland said.
In the CVMS play, Dot Gale groans as she hears the morning alarm and her mother announcing the beginning of a new day. She reluctantly says goodbye to her dog, Toto, as she scrambles off to CVMS. Before she hits first period she’s humiliated in front of the class by her drama teacher, Ms. Alma, taunted by Veronica, the queen of the Village Voice clique and called into the office to sign a detention form.
Coach Mitchell and her science teacher Mr. Bailey try to look out for Dot, but it seems the odds are against her as she races home to elude the Village Voices and the storm that’s headed toward Canfield. Dot’s mom calls to inform her that she has to work late and that Dot will be on her own for dinner.
Dot greets Toto, ready to finally relax when the tornado hits and propels her into another world where she meets new friends who join her journey to find the Wizard and get back home to Canfield.
Cast members included Rosie Bresson as Dot; Maddy Urig as Ty/Scarecrow; Justin Jickess as Mr. Bailey/Tin Man; Andrew Letscher as Coach Mitchell/Cowardly Lion; Emma Hartshorn as Mom/Good Witch Belinda; Karina Conner as Toto; Lake Bennett as Principal Marvel/Wizard; Olivia Ricciuttias Wicked Witch of the East-/Katie Belle; Nichole Noakes as Ms. Kroop/Alpha Captain of the Winks; Patrick Byrne as Bruce the Doorman; Gillian Jennings as Jody; Carly Oddo as Carol; Kaci Carpenter as Veronica and Annie Vallas as Almira/Wicked Witch of the West.
Sam and Dave Munchkins were played by Mitchell Halley and Carson Markley; the uber-creepy forest trees were played by Louis Brunet, Vince Haniford, Mitchell Halley and Carson Markley and the Ozian soloists were Emily Burrows, Kennedy Lisowski and Moira Lumsden.
Village Voices/Poppies/Monkeys included Emily Burrows, Nicole Schmidt, Kennedy Lisowski, Camille Bagnola, Moira Lumsden, Rachel Sinclair, Delaney Bresnahan, Emily Hofsess and Kaci Carpenter.
Winks/Munchkins/Flowers included Lindey Allen, Ashley Baxter, Maggie Beistel, Gianna Campana, Stephanie Franco, Megan Gocola, Francine Hazy, Kortni Hyde, Gillian Jennings, Hannah Mattix, Erica Phillips and Olivia Slater.
Wizzard Asst/Munchkins/Flowers included Ally Cooper, Maresa Christopher, Maddie Deiley, Lexi Denney, Julia Frenzel, Alexis Heldreth, Mallory Jones, Kayla Lemasters, Remi Mikan and Helen Neff.
Serving as art director was Kandace Cleland; musical and orchestral director was Jodine Pilmer; choreographer and acting coach was Ali Cleland; stage managers were Morgan Weiss and Rachel Rosteck and set design was Mike Williamson and Cleland.
Songs featured in the updated production included such Motown classics as “Rescue Me,” “A Change in Gonna Come,” “Dancing in the Street,” “Move on Up,” “I Put a Spell on You,” “Think,” “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted,” “Superstition,” “Stop! In the Name of Love,” “Boogie Wonderland,” “Soul Man,” “Nothing from Nothing” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”
For the finale of the show, the full company sang the classic “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
“This play is a fun tribute to the kids and Canfield,” Cleland said.