WILTON—Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Academy is pleased to announce the OLF Theater Group has selected The Wizard of Oz for its upcoming spring musical production. Performances are planned for Friday, April 3 and Saturday, April 4, 2020.
The show will be under the direction of Mara Fleming, who is also the music teacher for the school. “OLF has a long tradition in the performing arts, and The Wizard of Oz will be one of our most ambitious shows,” she said, pointing out that the scripts and scores were sourced from Tams-Witmark, one of the premier musical theater licensing companies in the country.
Mrs. Fleming revealed that the selection of The Wizard of Oz was very deliberate. “We considered doing a number of shows this spring, but we chose Oz because it’s the one play where absolutely everyone, from the older kids to the youngest in our school, could be a really meaningful part of the production.”
OLF Catholic Academy includes preschool grades through 8th grade. “At OLF we have an amazing preschool program and we wanted to include them in the show. Our pre-K kids might be small, but they have big spirt!” said Mrs. Fleming. “This is a show where they aren’t just included, but they are able to really shine,” she added, referring to their roles as Munchkins and other small-sized characters. “While our leads may have some performance experience—and this production really showcases their talents— we can also give our youngest students an experience that will inspire them with a love of the performing arts.”
In addition to 22 preschoolers, the cast includes 45 students from kindergarten through 8th grade. Sofia Pace will play the role of Dorothy, while Abby Jones will play the Wicked Witch of the West. Justine Bonafide, Chloe Thompson and Connor Bowron will play the Scarecrow, Lion and Tin Man roles, respectively.
Mrs. Fleming emphasized that this is an entirely student-led production, including set design, props and backgrounds. “It is very exciting to see so many kids get into something so creative. They’re running with it creatively, and producing things far better than we could have bought.”
OLF Academy prides itself on the particularly strong sense of community that exists among its students and families. As Mrs. Fleming explained, “You hear people talk about ‘the Fatima family’. This show really celebrates that family.” As if on cue, she added, “And there’s no place like home!”
The shows will take place at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Academy, 225 Danbury Road, Wilton, CT. Advance tickets will be available in mid-March.
About Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Academy
Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Academy is co-educational, National Blue Ribbon School offering a Pre-Kindergarten 3 through Grade 8 education model. The Academy’s Personalized Approach to Learning blends classroom and small group instruction with technology to provide learning that is fluid and flexible based on the ability of the student. Multi-age, child-centered classrooms offer continuous learning. OLFCA’s faith-based environment nurtures the whole child and emphasizes strong moral values and respect for self and others. The Academy is located at 225 Danbury Road, Wilton CT 06897.
(For tours and admissions information, contact Stanley Steele, principal at ssteele@olfcatholic.org. Phone: 203-762-8100; www.olfacademy.org.)
