Springs Community Theater Off To Stage 'The Wizard'

Thoughtfully twirling her “signature Dorothy” brunette braid with one finger, the soon-to-be 14-year-old Anna Francesca Schiavoni was the picture of young confidence as she passed the time before rehearsal in her dressing room last week—and even when she took center stage, completely alone.After all, she has been singing “Over the Rainbow” since she could barely speak, at the request of both her grandmothers, whose favorite movie is “The Wizard of Oz.”

But there is more to Dorothy than her signature song, something Anna said she realized not long after she was cast by the Springs Community Theater Company, which is staging the beloved musical starting Friday night at Guild Hall in East Hampton.

“It’s a little intimidating because everyone knows Dorothy and you have to fit a specific mold. You have to stay true to who she is,” Anna said. “But I would like to add just a tiny bit of me. She’s naïve and sweet, but when it comes to right and wrong, she knows what to do. Like, if they’re picking on her friends, she’s, like, ‘Nuh-uh,’” she snapped her fingers for emphasis. “‘Not gonna happen.’ Without the sass.”

L. Frank Baum’s circa-1900 children’s fantasy “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” introduced the world to Dorothy Gale, an orphaned girl unhappy with her drab existence on a dusty Kansas farm. When she and her dog, Toto, are swept away by a cyclone to the magical Land of Oz, she meets a colorful cast of characters—as well as the Wicked Witch of the West and her band of Winged Monkeys. Which induced more nightmares remains a point of contention among the cast and crew of 35.

“I saw the movie when I was 6, and I actually didn’t finish watching it because I was so scared of the evil witch,” recalled 18-year-old Erin Elizabeth, who is portraying Glinda the Good Witch. “When I was about 9, I watched it all the way though. Still scared, but I loved it.”

Actor April Keough, who is portraying the Wicked Witch herself, shook her head. “Oh, no, it was the monkeys,” she said, laughing. “It was something about those monkeys. But, I’ve got to tell you, it’s fun being evil.”

The film so traumatized co-director and set designer Diana Horn as a child that it took a recent trip to Broadway to convince her to even stage the musical.

“Believe it or not, I was afraid of doing it—not because of the sets, but because I hated the show, because I was afraid of the ‘Wizard of Oz’ as a child. I’m terrified of the Wicked Witch and the monkeys!” Ms. Horn said. “My sister took me to see ‘Wicked’ so I would be less fearful of witches, and that worked for me.”

Ms. Horn’s sister just so happens to be co-director Jayne Freedman, who founded the grassroots theater company with Barbara Mattson in 2005 after the East Hampton Community Theater Company disbanded. Their first production, “Once Upon a Mattress,” staged at the Springs Presbyterian Church—and it’s hard to believe 10 years have passed since, Ms. Freedman said.

“It started over a conversation. I said to Barbara, ‘I’m going all the way to Riverhead for theater—isn’t it ridiculous we don’t have anything out here?’ And she goes, ‘Well, I’m in if you’re in.’ And I was, like, ‘You think we can do it?’” Ms. Freedman reminisced, smiling. “We took our own money and did our first show. Each year, we learn more and more. Every show gets better and better.”

She hesitated before adding, “I’ve always wanted to do ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ If I had known how many sets, I would have said, ‘What am I thinking?’ This is probably one of the hardest shows I’ve ever, ever done. And I’ve done a lot of shows.”

Both acts comprise 13 scenes each, according to Ms. Horn, for which there are nine original sets. Wheels and people replace what should be hydraulics, and the success of the production is contingent on cast and crew cooperation, she said.

“Why do I do this? I love my sister,” Ms. Horn deadpanned, before laughing. “No, but that’s a major part of it. She has been a theater person since high school. I was an athlete—I can’t sing, I can’t dance, but I can design. But I love my sister so much, so this gives us time to be together. That’s why I do it.

“It turned out to be a lot of fun—a lot of work, but a lot of fun,” she continued. “I’m feeling good. It’s stressful to get to this point, but after last night’s rehearsal, we’re gonna have a tremendous show. This is community theater, and you fall in love with everyone involved. That’s what makes it worthwhile.”

A thud suddenly grabbed Ms. Horn’s attention. Her eyes darted to the scenery behind her. “One of the lollipops fell off!” she yelled, rushing off. “I hate when that happens …”

Actor James Zay laughed to himself as he stretched on stage, preparing for his physically demanding role as the Scarecrow.

“It’s a great character. It’s a guy who’s smart all along, even though he doesn’t have a brain,” Mr. Zay said. “When you think about all the essential qualities that make us human—your heart, your brain, your courage—through it all, the soul is in there, too, the personality. I try to make him as loose and as crazy as I can be. That’s why I’m out here getting loose.”

Like many of his fellow cast-mates, Mr. Zay said he grew up with the musical as a child. “I never thought anybody would be brazen enough to take it on,” he said. “There’s a lot of complicated things. We can’t use pyrotechnics. It’s difficult that way. But Jayne and Diana are pretty innovative in terms of getting things to work out somehow. And I would have taken any character in it—except Dorothy and Toto.”

Unexpectedly, a fair amount of the production’s comedic relief comes from Toto: a small silky terrier/beagle mutt named Stitch, who took turns between prancing around stage, adorably chewing on Dorothy’s basket and chasing the fringe on Mr. Zay’s boots.

But Anna stayed true to her character throughout it all. And, come opening night, her grandmothers will certainly be proud.

“Oh, they will both be here, for all of the shows,” she said, giving away a shy smile. “Whenever I would sing ‘Over the Rainbow,’ my one grandmother would say, ‘Oh, that’s so wonderful—can you do it again?’ ‘Sure, Gammy, yes.’ I’ve had a lot of practice.”

The Springs Community Theater Company will open its production of “The Wizard of Oz” on Friday, November 13, at 7 p.m. at Guild Hall in East Hampton. Additional performances will be held Saturday, November 14, at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Sunday, November 15, at 1 p.m.; Friday, November 20, and Saturday, November 21, at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, November 22, at 1 p.m. Tickets are $25 and $15 for children age 18 and under. For more information, visit web.ovationtix.com/trs/cal/34264.