The enchanted land of Oz will be on the stage at the Henryetta high school auditorium next spring.
That was the announcement Monday night by Liz Bealko.bealko
Speaking to the Henryetta school board, Bealko said the HHS Performing Arts Student Association has grown to over 50 students. “Last October we started with two kids. It’s crazy what one year can do,” she told the board.
That organization performed the “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” as it’s first musical last spring.
“The students have made back all of the money they spent on the musical. They have raised over $5,000 already this year doing bake sales and garage sales,” she said.
The Wizard of Oz is expected to have a cast of over 30 students and she said many of those will be from the elementary and middle school ranks.
“We will start small and bring them up to get ready for high school. She went on to say that many students want to be involved in other phases of the performance ranging from set and costume design and makeup.
The performance is planned for April 25 through 29 with show times on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
“We want to invite other schools to see this,” Bealko added. “Okmulgee County has one big theatre and that is here.”
She asked the board to set aside $6,000 to cover her costs directing the musical. “I took 25 percent of the ticket sales last year and that was $753 for 609 hours working from January through May.