THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 28, 1996 TAG: 9603270139
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
THEY ARE ALL there - Dorothy, Tinman, Scarecrow, Lion.
The other lion, Leo the MGM roarer, is missing. This is not ``The Wizard of Oz'' but ``The Wiz.''
It has an interesting record. The original Broadway production netted seven Tony awards. The movie bombed.
Director Susan Rawls explains the ``Wizard'' - ``Wiz'' similarities and differences.
``The storyline is like the movie, but the music is totally different,'' she said. ``The movie version of ``The Wiz'' was totally different from anything.''
The Lakeland High School production, of course, takes the Broadway road.
``About 40 kids auditioned. We have about 40 in the cast,'' Rawls said. ``This is a tough show. It has more characters, more scenery changes, more costumes, more music.''
Performances are tonight, Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $5. For another $5 you can enjoy a pre-show spaghetti dinner in the school cafeteria at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
Then, on with the show. Get re-acquainted with Auntie Em and Uncle Henry, the good and bad witches, the munchkins, the citizens of Emerald City, and the yellow brick road which, in ``The Wiz,'' is portrayed by four high school students.
The student with the plum role of Dorothy is 17-year-old junior Crystal Campbell, actress-musician-dancer, once with the Flatland Cloggers and once a student at the Governor's School For the Arts ``where,'' she said, ``I trained with a teacher from the Metropolitan Opera.''
Crystal will study dental hygiene in college, ``to have something to fall back on,'' she said. That is in case she doesn't make it as a singer ``of soul, rhythm and blues, opera or country.''
Joshua Scribner - Tinman - wants to be a country singer, ``like John Michael Montgomery. He has such a good voice.''
Like several cast members, the 16-year old sophomore performs with the Cavalier Singers.
A 17-year-old senior, Therbia Parker, will be Scarecrow - ``easygoing and relaxed, just like me,'' he said, adding, ``performing relieves school stress. When I'm on stage, I feel free.''
Lion is a 17-year-old junior, deep-voiced Lauren Bright, who is philosophical about her character.
``Like Lion, most young people have the ability to do so much,'' she said, ``but they need confidence.''
Shawn Manley has a lot of confidence in his athletic ability.
The 16-year-old sophomore is The Wiz, a charming con man.
``Like him, I'm outgoing. I like to have fun,'' said Shawn, whose idea of fun is ``football, baseball, basketball, track and swimming.
``I'm interested in sports law,'' he said.
Musically, he is also a whiz, a member of Lakeland's concert band and its chorus.
``The Wiz appeals to students because of the music,'' Rawls said, ``and it will appeal to the community.'' MEMO: AT A GLANCE
What: ``The Wiz.''
When: 8 p.m. tonight, Friday and Saturday. Spaghetti dinner will be
served in the cafeteria between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. $5.
Where: Lakeland High School, 215 Kenyon Rd.
Tickets: $5, available from any cast member or at the door the night
of the show.
Call: 925-5530.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Crystal Campbell, a junior at Lakeland, has the role of Dorothy.
The cast rehearses for ``The Wiz,'' which they'll perform through
Saturday.
by CNB