St. Clair College’s Music Theatre Performance students are ready to transport audiences to the magical land of Oz in their highly anticipated production of The Wizard of Oz.

This spectacular show promises all the colour, magic, dancing, and spectacle that audiences love – including flying students during the production, which runs from April 19 until April 26, 2025.

Under the expert direction of Thomas Alderson, who previously served as the assistant director for Rent at the Stratford Festival, this production showcases the immense talent and dedication of the students.

This year’s production features a cast of 44 performers, including 36 first-year students and eight third-year students.

Third-year student Brooklyn Golding is cast in the role of Dorothy and calls the show a “really fun experience.”

“We’re trying to make it really real, showing human experiences and telling the story of belonging and finding that in Dorothy’s story, as well as the other three characters that she finds along the way,” said Golding. “There’s tons of colour and energy and excitement, and we’ve all had a great time in the rehearsal period, we’re in this beautiful theatre with these beautiful costumes, and I think we’re all just so grateful to be able to perform here.”

Since January, the students have poured more than 100 hours of rehearsal time into bringing this classic story to life on stage.

Adding an innovative touch to the production, St. Clair College has partnered with Chris Bozzetto and the Animation 2D/3D department to create stunning digital projections that will transport audiences straight into the heart of Oz. This collaboration between the performing arts and digital animation highlights the incredible talent across disciplines at St. Clair College.

“It has been a joy working on this show with these students,” said Kristyn Wiklanski, the program coordinator for the Music Theatre Performance program. “The music is beautiful, the costumes are perfect, and the experience that the students are having is one they will remember for the rest of their lives.”