Meet the teacher who costumed Dorothy, Glinda and the gang - including 60 Munchkins - for St. Viator's 'The Wizard of Oz'
Every year during Catholic Schools Week, St. Viator High School opens its annual musical, inviting its feeder schools to the opening performances.
While prospective students see firsthand what kind of opportunities await them in high school, what they may not see is just how much goes into mounting the show, often by unsung faculty members.
That's the case this week, when Catholic schools across the country celebrate a faith-based education and invite community members in through open houses, special liturgies and other activities. Its theme is: Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.
At St. Viator, its students will debut Friday in "The Wizard of Oz," the first of six performances over the next two weekends. When they finally take the stage - all 120 of them between two casts - one of those unsung faculty members will breathe a sigh of relief: Julie Reedy, who oversaw the costuming of the show, including its nearly 60 Munchkins.
"You have in your mind, what you want it to look like (on stage)," Reedy says, "We've been putting things together, repurposing things and creatively trying to embellish everything, so you never really know until dress rehearsals how it will all look."
Reedy is in her 30th year of teaching math at the school, including algebra II and trigonometry, and pre-calculus. After school, she tutors students before working the admission gate at football games and serves as a scorekeeper for girls' and boy's volleyball games.
It's all in a day's work for Catholic schoolteachers, who often are asked to wear many hats. Yet costuming a musical goes above and beyond, it seems.
Reedy and the director, Kate Costello, knew they wanted the cast to be outfitted in costumes that were bright, colorful and glittery with sequins. After all, they point out that the motion picture, starring Judy Garland, celebrates its 80th anniversary this year and was one of the first films to be made in Technicolor.
Consequently, in bringing it to life, the show must burst with color. Reedy and Costello hope that will be evident in the show's big ensemble numbers, including "Munchkin Land" and the "Merry Old Land of Oz," which both include every cast member.
"Our philosophy is to give as many kids the chance to do as many things in a musical as possible," says Costello, who teaches theater at the school.
Costello created roles as poppies, snowflakes and even ghosts to accommodate more students. That was the good news. The bad news for Reedy was that meant creating more costumes.
"Each student has an average of four costume changes," Reedy says, "with some having as many as eight costumes."
It's all part of the fun - and empowering aspect - of performing on stage, Costello says.
"One of the themes of the story - which applies especially to our young actors - is the importance of recognizing your inner strengths," Costello says. "I enjoy the irony that none of the characters realize they already possess the qualities for which they are seeking a magical solution.
"Participation in the St. Viator musical brings out the inner strengths - and hidden talents - in many of our students, and our adults too," she adds. "We grow stronger and more confident when we work together to create this theater family, not over the rainbow, but right here, on the Joann Calzaretta stage."
Performances of "The Wizard of Oz" are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 1-2 and 8-9; and at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 3 and 10. Tickets are $12. The school is at 1213 E. Oakton St., Arlington Heights. Call (847) 392-4050, ext. 243, email boxoffice@saintviator.com or visit www.saintviator.com.