‘Wizard of Oz’ at O.C. Fair is a hot revue

Michael Miller

After a mere two weeks of rehearsal, the cast of the Arts and

Learning Conservatory presented “The Wizard of Oz” for the first time

Friday at the Orange County Fair. But that wasn’t the most difficult

task.

The most difficult task was walking across the street from

Vanguard University, where the summer theater camp is held, to the

stage at the fairgrounds. Due to the sweltering, 80-plus-degree heat,

few cast members opted to make the trek across Fair Drive in costume

-- especially the Wicked Witch of the West.

“It’s really hot,” said Lindsay Wolfe, 13, of Newport Beach,

journeying across the grounds with her robe and broom draped over her

shoulder.

During the group’s half-hour performance on the Celebration Stage,

the cast of 30 young actors and musicians got to show off their

theater skills after 10 hectic days of camp.

Every summer, the Arts and Music Conservatory at Vanguard offers

camps for 7- to 15-year-olds interested in string orchestra, musical

theater or dance. The two weeks culminate in a full performance at

Vanguard -- mercifully, in the air-conditioned Lyceum Theater -- but

beforehand, the cast presents an abbreviated version of their latest

play at the fair.

Friday at 1 p.m., the conservatory introduced “The Wizard of Oz”

on the Celebration Stage in the Youth in Motion building. On a small

platform with children’s art and science projects lining the walls,

the cast sang “Over the Rainbow,” “If I Only Had a Brain” and other

numbers from the classic musical.

There were a few original touches to the show as well. Each of the

actors playing munchkins created an individual persona -- lumberjack

munchkin, ballerina munchkin and so on -- and recited four-line poems

to fit their characters. Choreographer Candace McGroggan also helped

them create short dances.

Katie Posert, 8, of Newport Beach, offered the following verse:

“I’m the nerdy munchkin / I like math and food / I get thrown in the

trash a lot / But I don’t have any attitude.”

The recital marked the conservatory’s third performance at the

fair this summer. Earlier this month, another class presented scenes

from the Depression musical “Annie” and also played a string quartet.

A stage version of “Pirates of the Caribbean,” adapted by

conservatory director Marcieanna Jasko from the hit film, will follow

at the end of July.

For the performers, most of whom attend school in the Newport-Mesa

Unified School District, opening at the summer festival was an honor.

“As soon as I heard, I was just, like, wow,” said Miles Patricola,

12, of Newport Beach, who played the Scarecrow. “The Orange County

Fair, that’s a big deal.”

Miles, who starred in “Annie” last year at Andersen Elementary

School, said he got his role in “The Wizard of Oz” partly because of

his agility.

“I’m really fluid with my arms and legs, and that’s what they

saw,” he explained.

Tiffany Silverstein, 10, of Newport Beach, who played the Glinda,

the Good Witch of the North, said she rehearsed on her own at home to

complement the cast’s three-hour-a-day run-throughs.

“It’s a little bit challenging,” Tiffany said, “but we shorten

it.”