Unveiling a magical journey: Directing The Wizard of Oz at WCH
It is with bursting pride that we extend our heartfelt congratulations to the whole school community for their collective dedication and hard work in bringing to life the iconic musical classic, The Wizard of Oz - Youth Edition.
The Wizard of Oz – A story of courage, kindness and responsibility.
The Wizard of Oz is a story of a young girl called Dorothy Gale. After a tornado whisks her away to the magical land of Oz, young Dorothy Gale teams up with a Scarecrow, a Tin Woodsman, and a Cowardly Lion to find the powerful Wizard of Oz, who can send her home. Along the way, they must avoid the clutches of the Wicked Witch of the West, who is trying to steal the mysterious magic slippers that once belonged to her evil sister but are now on Dorothy’s feet. Dorothy eventually learns just how magical friendship can be and how wonderful it can feel to go home again.
Read on to find out more about the amazing behind-the-scenes work that goes into staging such a successful musical production, from the heart of it: our performing arts dream team.
Over the 2022 - 2023 academic year, over 70 skilful, talented and willing pupils in performing arts, supported by a team of 11 dedicated teachers, embarked on an enchanting journey to bring the beloved classic "The Wizard of Oz" to life for our school community. With boundless creativity, teamwork, and perseverance, this production was a testament to the power of music, dance and drama in education for our pupils.
Building the Foundation
The first step in directing a large-scale production like "The Wizard of Oz" is laying a solid foundation. We carefully selected the cast, ensuring each student found the perfect role to showcase their talents. We conducted auditions, workshops, and rehearsals for three months, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment that encouraged everyone to explore their potential.
Sebastian, Professor Marvel and Jitterbug
“Think large but expect little. I wanted to go for the witch originally, but I got a much smaller role. No matter how small the part, everyone plays a big role in the whole thing.”
Cultivating Creativity
Every character in Wizard of Oz is unique and can be presented with a dynamic approach. For example, the Scarecrow wants a brain, the Tin Man wants a heart, and the Cowardly Lion wants courage. How do we inspire our acting crew to explore the uniqueness of each character? 79 pupils delved deep into the rich tapestry of Oz through drama exercises, improvisation games, and character development workshops. The teachers encouraged them to experiment, take risks, and explore various interpretations of their characters, fostering a sense of ownership and artistic expression.
Lucky, Scarecrow
“Pull yourself up!”
Tony, Hunk
“Don’t make yourself very scared, just go for it!”
Teamwork and Collaboration
A production of this magnitude requires seamless teamwork and collaboration. The pupils worked together on and off stage, forging strong bonds and learning the value of cooperation. Our production team of 11 skilful and outstanding teachers work on designing beautiful sets and costumes, choreographing elaborate dance sequences, and perfecting musical performances. The cast and crew displayed an unwavering commitment to the shared vision. Furthermore, our entire school community was always behind us, supporting and encouraging us. Most importantly, the parents of our cast and crew were supportive far and wide the whole time. We also thank Friends of Wellington College Hangzhou for organising makeup support and ensuring that pupils were ready to be on stage for each performance.
Challenges and Growth
Challenges inevitably arose throughout the year-long production process, but these were growth opportunities. The pupils and teachers learned the importance of adaptability, problem-solving, and resilience. The pupils developed essential life skills such as time management, organisation, and effective communication, which will serve them well beyond the stage.
Culminating the Journey
After months of dedication, the stage was finally set for outstanding performance. The pupils stepped onto the stage, and with boundless energy, they transported the audience to the magical world of Oz. Their commitment and passion shone through every scene, captivating the hearts of all who witnessed their mesmerizing performance.
A Lasting Impact
Directing "The Wizard of Oz Youth Edition" production was not just about the final performance. It was about instilling a lifelong appreciation for the arts. The pupils discovered their unique talents, nurtured their creativity, and learned the value of teamwork, dedication, responsibility, kindness, and respect through their participation. They developed confidence, self-expression, and a deep sense of accomplishment to inspire them in future endeavours.
Aliza and Olivia
“We are the jitterbugs and the crows. We worked really hard, but it was really fun. We rehearsed Saturday from 1pm to 6pm with our teachers.”
Finale
The year-long journey of directing "The Wizard of Oz Youth Edition" production was a testament to the transformative power of performing arts. Through collaboration, creativity, and perseverance, these pupils and their teachers showcased the magic of storytelling, leaving a lasting impression on all who witnessed their enchanting performance. This production will forever serve as a cherished memory and a source of inspiration for the pupils and teachers involved at Wellington College Hangzhou.
Mrs Dever, Deputy Director/Stage Manager
“Our third Wellington musical, there are so many emotions I am feeling, I really have no words to describe it, as these children mean everything to us. We are trying to make a difference, and this is why I do this job. I’m sure we will see some of these children on stage and I can’t wait to see the final product of their performing careers in the future.”
The performing arts programme at Wellington College Hangzhou offers exceptional teaching quality with links to the highly respected framework of the English national drama curriculum providing numerous educational benefits for pupils. It facilitates pupils’ creativity, teamwork, language and literacy skills and cultural awareness. It is one of our many engaging holistic activities that boosts confidence in English language skills. Ultimately, Wellington and Huili pupils feel rewarded both academically and personally.
This musical production was a collective College effort. Preparations started last year when pupils began choosing their co-curricular School Activities (SA). Many of these skills have been nurtured through our extensive SA programme, for example, drama, musical production, choir, band, orchestra, fashion design, DT creative design and LAMDA etc. These achievements not only demonstrate their talent but will also serve to enhance their university applications in the future.
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