Beacon Falls Youth Theater Company to Put on The Wizard of Oz

Picture this: you are sitting in a theater audience waiting for the curtains to open when you hear the smallest “roar” over the speakers. 

Spring of 2023, this can be a reality as elementary and middle school students are performing The Wizard of Oz at Woodland Regional High School with the Beacon Falls Youth Theater Company.

Directors Katherine Griffin and Brianna Cochran are excited to work with the kids for the upcoming performance. 

“Every single one of them impresses me everyday,” said Cochran. “With some of the older kids, I have even developed an older sister and friendship bond.”

The kids have been working hard in rehearsals. For the first few rehearsals, they have been working together to boost morale and confidence by playing improv games and practicing auditions.

“It has been very interesting to see them grow from the month and a half since we started,” said Griffin. “When we started, they were timid, but once we played games in order to get comfortable with each other, I noticed they were working together to read scripts and rehearse scenes.” 

The Beacon Falls Youth Theater Company is known for their adorable performances with an outstanding cast. Last year, the company performed Into the Woods. Most of the cast is returning with new members for this year’s show. 

Bella Messina, a fifth grader in the program, has worked with the theater company for many years as her dad, Vincent Messina, is the president.

“I love theater because I get to be somebody else and have fun creating a new personality with each character,” said Messina. “The other kids are so nice and I have fun working with them.” 

Messina’s cast mates are excited too as everyone will be getting their scripts when the cast list is announced. 

“It has only been two months, so we have a long way ahead,” said Cochran. 

Support the Beacon Falls Youth Theater Company and follow the yellow brick road to Oz this spring.