Review: THE WIZ Eases its Way Down the Road to Brilliance at Hamilton High School

The Academy of Music and Performing Arts at Hamilton High School, winner of the Best School Program at the Los Angeles Music Center's 2010 Bravo Award and numerous National Youth Theater Awards, presents THE WIZ, the Tony-winning urban retelling of the famed classic presented entirely by students enrolled at the Academy in grades 9-12. As a former high school performer who became an English and Drama teacher both in Los Angeles and Santa Cruz, CA, I wish I had been able to attend this type of school when I was a teenager or been able to teach at one with this type of program celebrating the arts.

With music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls and book by William F. Brown, THE WIZ is an urban retelling of the classic fantasy story based on the children's book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. Filled with beloved songs, incredible dance numbers, tornadoes, munchkins, and skateboarding monkeys, the enthusiasm of the cast as directed and choreographed by Chelsea Field and magnificent student rock orchestra conducted by Stephen McDonough under the Musical Direction of Kelci Hahn, will transport you in believing this is a professional company of triple threat actors at the top of their game.

The adventure begins on a tumbledown farm in Kansas where Dorothy (Maggie Fitzgerald sharing the role with Alexa Baruch) and Auntie Em (Aleska Irizarry-Scott) wish they could revive "The Feeling We Once Had." After a siren announces the arrival of a tornado, the ensemble (dressed in shades of black and white) bring the wind storm to the stage through rapid and very clever choreography, Dorothy is whisked off and arrives in a colorful world that doesn't look anything like Kansas.

After a rowdy celebration with the Munchkins (comically dressed in shades of pink and moving about on wheeled stools hidden under massive skirts to make them appear shorter), Dorothy receives the Wicked Witch of the Eest's silver slippers from uptown witch Addaperle (Lewanana Pinkey) backed by the incredible and sparkly trio of "Pit Singers" (Cecilia Gomez, Chloe Ridolfo, Isabel Van Aaist) who sing soulful back-up in almost every number in the show.

As Dorothy begins to ease her way on down the road (represented by four ensemble dancers dressed in yellow brick overalls) in search of the Emerald City to consult the Wiz on how to get back home, she meets Scarecrow (rubbery Marshall Dylan Schaffer) who feels his life is going nowhere since he doesn't have a brain to figure out how to make it better, an uptight Tim Man (Benjamin Raanan who wonderfully steals every scene in which he appears) in need of oil to move freely, and the mama's boy Lion (perfectly gruff and timid Maurice Lemons) who wants to fire his psychiatrist owl but lacks the confidence to do so. Together they seek to achieve their goals via the great and powerful Wiz (Lucas Bross sharing the role with Devin Weitz).

Along the way, each production number becomes more creative and costumed to colorful perfection, culminating with the arrival of the brazenly sexy Wicked Witch of the West Evillene (spectacular Emma Griffone who channels Aretha Franklin to the hilt before being melted with water), and an Elvis-inspired Wiz rocking out his departure celebration. As revealed by both the Wiz and Glinda the Good Witch (lovely Chloe Vaught), the foursome has travelled a long way to find what's already inside each of them to fulfill their dreams. It's a great message for people of all ages!

Remaining performances of THE WIZ take place Fri., Feb. 19 at 8 p.m. and Sat., Feb. 20 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. in the Norman J. Pattiz Auditorium at Hamilton High School, located at 2955 S. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90034. Ticket prices range from $10-20 (senior/student tickets available). For more information and to purchase tickets online, visit www.HamiltonMusic.org.

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