The Yarmouth High School Playmakers are known for their outstanding fall productions each year, as well as their consistently first-place winning One-Act performance. This fall, they have been preparing for a production of the Wizard of Oz. With a show like this, there are several interesting prop and backstage situations. As most of us know, Glinda the Good can fly and enters many scenes in the movie flying. In previous years, Playmakers has been able to fly actors for their shows Cinderella and the Addams Family. Unfortunately, the company they usually use for this effect has gone out of business in Maine, so they are unable to fly Glinda in. Don’t worry though! Mrs. Puelle says that Glinda will still enter magically, just as the script says. Another interesting aspect of this performance is Toto, Dorothy’s dog. Toto will be played by a Cairn Terrier named Zelda. Zelda has played Toto before in Maine State Music Theater’s production of The Wizard of Oz as well as played a part in the previous Addams Family show by Playmakers, so Zelda is both experienced in The Wizard of Oz and with some of the Playmakers. Even though Zelda is previously trained, she still needs to be trained into the performance. It’s safe to say she’s getting plenty of treats this fall. The other animals in the show will be portrayed by life-sized puppets controlled by the students.
So far, rehearsals are going well and everyone is excited to be back in the YPAC after two years of not being able to put on a fall performance there. Last year the Playmakers put on a performance of Shrek Jr. in the West Elm parking lot due to COVID restrictions. Ms. Puelle says the biggest difference this year will be the technical abilities of the YPAC that were unavailable outdoors. The students involved backstage have been working hard to rig the YPAC with fog machines, wireless microphones, scenic projections, and more. The actors are also working hard to prepare for the show. With a lot of talented singers and actors in the cast and all the backstage efforts, the show looks like it’s going to be another success. Ms. Puelle said that she and the students “Cannot wait to share the show with our audiences.”
Be sure to buy your tickets online before the shows on December 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.
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