Woodland students prepare for trip to Oz
Dorothy and her dog Toto came to Woodland Intermediate School in Gurnee on Wednesday, when student cast members of the fall play "The Wizard of Oz" gave their classmates an early preview of the performance.
The more than 40 fourth- and fifth-grade students that make up the cast and crew used the dress rehearsal to prepare for Thursday's opening night.
The play is based more closely on Frank L. Baum's original book than the screen version starring Judy Garland, said director April Cooksey.
"There a lot of things that are different from what kids are used to seeing in the musical movie," Cooksey said. "The kids have done a fantastic job. I think the kids, in particular, that come to watch it are going to be fascinated by it because there are some things that they don't know from the real book."
Dorothy, played by Ava Magliola, journeys through the Land of Oz discovering new friends, meeting the Great and Powerful Oz, played by Adi Pashupati, and finally confronting the Wicked Witch of the West, played by Morgan Ghys.
The play is open to the public at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, in Woodland's multipurpose room, 1115 N. Hunt Club Road in Gurnee.
Tickets cost $5 for adults. Children 12 and younger are admitted for free.