There's no place like Oz for more than 95 Lakeland College performing arts students.

The performing arts department will bring the Young Performers' Edition of the Wizard of Oz, directed by Kathryn Edwards, to the Vic Juba Community Theatre stage with two outstanding casts this weekend (March 14-17). And yes, this includes two Dorothys. 

“We had enough returning and new students that we knew the talent was there for us to organize two productions. This opens the opportunity for students to take on a leading role they might not have had a chance to play and otherwise might have slid into a musical ensemble if we only had one cast. I think it's wonderful that we have two Dorothys,Wicked Witches, Cowardly Lions, Scarecrows and Tinmen,” says Mona Smith, Performing Arts facilitator.

Two Dorothys in Wizard of Oz production

Dorothy will be brought to life by Corie Groome, a six-year performing arts student, and Brooke Tluchak, a three-year performing arts student.

“It's been amazing to be Dorothy and I'm excited to portray her. My favourite part of acting is performing with all the cast members,” says Tluchak who previously acted in the Young Performers' Edition of the Lion King and Little Mermaid. 

Groome adds that the opportunity to portray the iconic role of Dorothy and be a part of a production of this magnitude is a great way to end her time with Lakeland's Performing Arts.

“I am approaching this production differently, not only because it's my last production, but because of the experiences and lessons I've had through the years. My acting has changed since my first play with Performing Arts. I don't go through the script to memorize lines, I go through it for the motivation to put on a show for the audience,” Groome says.

Kathryn Edwards (right-centre) and the production crew talk with the Wizard of Oz cast.

Adapted into a musical, the production follows Dorothy over the rainbow and her many adventures with her newfound friends, the Scarecrow, Tinman and Lion. When they finally reach the Emerald City, Dorothy learns the life lesson that there really is no place like home.

Click your heels together and check out one or more of the four performance dates: March 14 and 15 at 7 p.m. and March 16 and 17 at 1 pm.

To purchase tickets visit the Vic Juba Community Theatre website.

Photos: Top-Brooke Tluchak (left) and Corie Groome (right) ​will bring Dorothy to life in the Young Performers' Edition of the Wizard of Oz.  Bottom-Kathryn Edwards (right-centre) and the production crew talk with the Wizard of Oz cast.