GHS actors ready to follow the yellow brick road this weekend

Following the yellow brick road, Dorothy (played by Jodi Buis) and Toto encounter The Scarecrow (Alex Asbell) in a scene from the Greencastle High School production of "The Wizard of Oz." The musical will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Parker Auditorium in McAnally Center at GHS. (Banner Graphic/ERIC BERNSEE)

What happens when you combine 60 preschool through eighth-graders with 70 high school students?

At Greencastle High School this weekend, you get a production of L. Frank Baum's "The Wizard Oz."

Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Parker Auditorium at McAnally Center.

Adapted from the MGM motion picture score and screenplay, the GHS production follows the well-known journey of young Dorothy Gale (played by Jodi Buis) as she dreams of escaping to a place that's better than her home in Kansas, somewhere over the rainbow.

She gets her wish and meets some interesting characters when her cyclone-struck house lands in Munchkinland. There she is greeted by Glinda, the good witch (potrayed by Brookelyn Edgar) and a whole town of Munchkins.

Unfortunately, the Wicked Witch of the West (played by Reba Chapple) ruins the festivities. Nevertheless, Glinda sets Dorothy on a path to meet a wizard who will help her get back home.

Off to see The Wizard are (from left) Ethan Gill as The Cowardly Lion, Alex Asbell as The Scarecrow, Jodi Buis as Dorothy, Sadie the Yorkie as Toto and Lucas Eckrich as The Tin Man in a scene from the Greencastle High School production of "The Wizard of Oz." The musical will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Parker Auditorium in McAnally Center at GHS. (Banner Graphic/ERIC BERNSEE)

As Dorothy follows the yellow brick road she meets a scarecrow (Alex Asbell) who needs a brain, a tin man (Lucas Eckrich) who needs a heart, and a lion (Ethan Gill) who needs some courage. They decide to accept Dorothy's invitation to accompany her on her journey.

Most of the munchkin roles are being played by GCSC students from grades preschool through eighth grade. The roles of trees, poppies, Winkies, monkeys, Jitterbugs (just to name a few) are being portrayed by GHS students.

There are several other "surprise" cast members in store for the audience.

More than 20 additional students are acting as crew members backstage and in the costume and make-up areas.

GHS theater teacher Bethany Bax is directing this production. GHS choir director Geoff Price is the show's music director. Robert Hedge, GHS band director, is technical director.

Stage managers are students Fred Soster and Destinee Hudson, while assistant director is student Josie Wood.

Tickets are on sale in the GHS front office from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Unless sold out, they will also be available at the door. All seats are $6.