Spring 2025 – Wizard of Oz
Director’s Note
The magical thing about directing Wizard of Oz as Riverton Arts Council’s first community production since before the pandemic, is it truly feels like coming home. Riverton Arts has been a home to so many people over the years – drawing in and showcasing the tremendous talent from within our community. This production includes generations of performers – in fact, we have three generations represented in one family! People from older generations know the value of community ties and want to give that gift to younger generations. I, personally, have benefitted from the knowledge and skills shared by one of my mentors, Kim Ostler, and I am working alongside former students of mine who are now skilled technicians in this production. This production is graced by the influence of those who started the Arts Council and is made possible by the many new faces and volunteers who are stepping in to continue its legacy.
Another reason this particular show is “awful sentimental” to me is that I played the scarecrow in middle school. I am constantly reminded of just how far I have come in my own journey with the art of theatre. My relationship with performing has definitely evolved. The initial love with the thrill of performing has grown into a sincere trust in the process. So much of what we know to be true comes from experience, from ups and downs, from struggle and perseverance. Now, as a seasoned theatre educator, I realize the value of theatre is not just in the delightful performances of a specific production, but in the way it shapes each of its practitioners to be disciplined, empathetic, and open to shared experiences. The lessons of theatre continue long after a curtain closes.
One of the key takeaways for me with this particular production is that despite the bumps in the road, we can find safety with each other and purpose in lessons learned. Life, like theatre, will never be easy. It’s not supposed to be. Even as Dorothy says, “Someplace where there isn’t any trouble. Do you suppose there is such a place, Toto? There must be…” We know this can never be…because it is only in the striving that we can grow. Dorothy learns that she must be strong and brave – she can only do that if she stands up for what’s right even if it’s hard … for her friends and her family and her beloved Toto. We each have to set off and accept this great adventure whatever comes our way. Luckily, when we believe in ourselves, our brains, our courage, our strength and our heart enable us to realize our own “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”.
Cast List
Ruby Cast
Dorothy………………………………………………………Aubrey Enger
Aunt Em/Glinda……………………………………Addison Andrus
Uncle Henry/Emerald City Guard………..Kamron Dalton
Zeke/Cowardly Lion…………………………………….McKay May
Hickory/Tinman………………………………………..Jaren Nielsen
Hunk/Scarecrow………………………………………Kyler Harmon
Ms. Gulch/Wicked Witch………………………..Charity Lynch
Marvel/Oz…………………………………………………..Taite Morgan
Munchkinland
Mayor…………………………………………………………..Paxton Duke
Coroner………………………………………………….Annie Mickelsen
Barrister……………………………………………………….Beckham Lu
City Father 1……………………………………………..Ava Richards
City Father 2…………………………………………………..Bentley Lu
Braggart………………………………………………….Camryn Watts
School Teacher 1…………………………………….Reagan Crane
School Teacher 2………………………………Vivianne Edwards
Edith Edwards
Lullaby League …………………………………………..Grace Dalton
Phoenix Duke, Macie May, Reagan Crane
Flower Girls …………………………………………….Sayler Harmon
Brexley Clark
Lollipop League ………………………………………………Bentley Lu
Charlie Mickelsen, Beckham Lu
Gabe Colvin, Sawyer Harmon
Crows……………………………………..Kellie Steinbeigle Harmon
Hope Garfield, Savannah Horner
Aria Martin, Camryn Watts
Trees………………………………………………………………Alyssa Alanis
Kylie Clark, Victoria Edwards
Savannah Horner, Kellie Nielsen
Olivia Nielsen, Sophie Nielsen
Natalie Dahl, Hannah Zumbrunnen
Poppies……………………………………………………………….Aria Martin
Alyssa Alanis, Kylie Clark
Victoria Edwards, Savannah Horner
Kellie Nielsen, Olivia Nielsen
Sophie Nielsen, Natalie Dahl
Hannah Zumbrunnen
Nikko (Commander of the Monkeys)……………Paxton Duke
Monkeys………………………………………………………….Phoenix Duke
Gabe Colvin, Grace Dalton
Edith Edwards, Vivianne Edwards
Sailor Harmon, Sawyer Harmon
Charlie Mickelsen, Annie Mickelsen
Macie May, Ava Richards
Bentley Lu, Beckham Lu
Winkie General………………………………………………….Jordan Potter
Winkies………………………………………………………………Alyssa Alanis
Hope Garfield, Aria Martin
Hannah Zumbrunnen, Olivia Nielsen
Scarecrow Beauticians………………Kellie Steinbeigle Harmon
Aria Martin, Kylie Clark, Savannah Horner
Tin Man Polishers………………………………………………Olivia Nielsen
Sophia Nielsen, Kellie Nielsen
Dorothy Manicurists……………………………………………Natalie Dahl
Alyssa Alanis, Hannah Zumbrunnen
Cowardly Lion Manicurists……………………………….Jordan Potter
Hope Garfield, Victoria Edwards
Jitterbugs…………………………………………………………….Jordan Potter
Hope Garfield, Victoria Edwards
Aria Martin, Kylie Clark
Savannah Horner, Kellie Steinbeigle
Harmon Kellie Nielsen, Olivia Nielsen
Sophie Nielsen, Alyssa Alanis
Natalie Dahl, Hannah Zumbrunnen
Emerald Cast
Dorothy ………………………………………………………..Adrie McIsaac
Aunt Em/Glinda…………………………………………………Lily Stepan
Uncle Henry/Emerald City Guard……………………..Ron Pettit
Zeke/Cowardly Lion…………………………………Heath Bateman
Hickory/Tinman………………………………………………Keith Denos
Hunk/Scarecrow…………………………………………Jonathan Dick
Ms. Gulch/Wicked Witch…………………………….Pam Winrow
Marvel/Oz…………………………………………………………….Jon Potter
Munchkinland
Mayor………………………………………………………………..Gabe Colvin
Coroner………………………………………………………Payton Radmall
Barrister……………………………………………………………….Ella Potter
City Father 1………………………………………………..Sayler Wardle
City Father 2………………………………………………….Ava Richards
Braggart……………………………………………….Kaitlynn Campbell
School Teacher 1………………………………..Charlotte Connolly
School Teacher 2…………………………………….Allison Connolly
Lullaby League…………………………………………Edith Edwards
Claire Miller, Eleanor Taylor
Mira Potter, Vivianne Edwards
Lollipop League……………………………………..Cooper Radmall
Wells Radmall, Ruby Jensen
Paxton Duke
Crows………………………………………………………Bryce Campbell
Cherie Fuller, Hannah Van Leeuwen
Hope Garfield, Lucy Devine
Trees……………………………………………………………Analise Potter
Ella Potter, Georgia Farr
Grace Van Leeuwen, Sarina Tolman
Victoria Edwards
Poppies………………………………………………………Analise Potter
Cherie Fuller, Ella Potter
Georgia Farr, Grace Van Leeuwen
Hannah Van Leeuwen, Hannah Zumbrunnen
Hope Garfield, Jordan Potter
Lucy Devine, Madison Cameron
Sarina Tolman
Nikko (Commander of the Monkeys)…………Gabe Colvin
Monkeys………………………………………………….Allison Connolly
Charlotte Connolly, Claire Willis
Cooper Radmall, Darwin Edwards
Edith Edwards, Eleanor Taylor
Kaitlynn Campbell, Mira Potter
Paxton Duke, Payton Radmall
Phoenix Duke, Ruby Jenson
Sayler Wardle, Vivianne Edwards
Wells Radmall
Winkie General…………………………………….Bryce Campbell
Winkies……………………………………………………….Cherie Fuller
Grace Van Leeuwen, Hannah Van Leeuwen
Jordan Potter, Madison Cameron
Ozians
Scarecrow Beauticians ……………………………….Ella Potter
Georgia Farr
Tin Man Polishers……………………………….Bryce Campbell
Cherie Fuller, Grace Van Leeuwen
Madison Cameron
Dorothy Manicurists………………………………Analise Potter
Hannah Zumbrunnen, Lucy Devine
Sarina Tolman
Cowardly Lion Manicurists…………………..Hope Garfield
Jordan Potter, Victoria Edwards
Jitterbugs…………………………………………………Analise Potter
Bryce Campbell, Cherie Fuller, Ella Potter
Georgia Farr, Grace Van Leeuwen
Hannah Van Leeuwen, Hannah Zumbrunnen
Hope Garfield, Jordan Potter
Lucy Devine, Madison Cameron
Sarina Tolman, Victoria Edwards
Production Staff
Producer………………………………….Kim Ostler
Director…………………………Krystal De Jesus
Music Director………………Kacee Cambron
Choreographer…………………….Trisha Duke
Associate Choreographer…..Lily Stepan
Olivia Dibble
Stage Manager……………Kelsey Vaughan
Company Manager………Cherise Vincent
Financial Manager……………Jamie Phelps
Consultant………………………Vicki Wartman
Costumes………………………………..Kim Ostler
Graphic Design………………Russ Richards
Kacee Cambron
Lighting Design…………Dylan Armstrong
Light Operator………………..Max McDaniel
Sound Design………………..Griffin McMullin
Sound Board Operator…………..Jane Dick
Set Design……………………….Russ Richards
Sets…………………………………Todd Wartman
Josh Duke, John Potter
Angel DeJesus, Gary Martin
Props Manager……………….Kelsey Vaughn
Backstage Manager……..Cherise Vincent
Backstage Crew…………………Maddie Hiles
Ali Johnson, Amanda Madsen
Ella Snow, Kaitlyn Skoubye
Layla Anderson, Micadyn Skoubye
Reese Fisher, Ted Campbell
Videographers…………………..Bella Erickson
Lorry Cunningham