“Follow the Yellow Brick Road” to Scottsdale Prep’s Theater Production

Scottsdale Preparatory Academy’s Theater Program is celebrating a milestone this year with its 10th anniversary, and the star of the season is none other than the musical classic, “The Wizard of Oz.” Under the direction of long-time faculty member Anna Chasse Clement, the production brings together students and continues a tradition of artistic excellence at Scottsdale Prep.

Chasse Clement, who has taught at the academy for a decade, shared the excitement surrounding this special production. “This is our 10th anniversary season, our silver season. Our theme this year is ‘From Silver Screen to Stage,’ so every show we’re doing is based on a movie. It’s also the first time in 10 years that we’ve repeated a production. We knew when we had the chance to bring a show back, “The Wizard of Oz” was exactly the one we wanted for our 10th season because truly, there is no place like home.”

Over the past ten years, Chasse Clement has directed numerous productions and has contagiously shared her love for theater and performing arts with her students. She teaches 12th-grade drama and 6th-grade literature while also overseeing the extracurricular theater program and serving as the director of the school’s Thespian Troupe.

When asked why “The Wizard of Oz” was chosen for such an important season, she explained the timeless message of the production and how it resonates with both students and audiences alike. “I love the message of the show, and it’s one that our kids love so much. We knew we had the talent for it, and we’re just so excited to have it back on our stage again,” she said.

But “The Wizard of Oz” isn’t the only “silver screen” related production this year. Scottsdale Prep is putting on a variety of shows, including “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe” with middle school students and “Arsenic and Old Lace” with its high schoolers. In February, the school will break new ground by staging the musical, “Grease,” featuring faculty members as the cast. This highly anticipated production has already received a lot of attention, with Chasse Clement announcing, “We’ve convinced Mr. McAfee (Scottsdale Prep’s Headmaster) to be in it, and we are very excited.”

One performance that is meaningful for the cast and crew is the special one-act preview performance for the fifth graders from Archway Scottsdale, the neighboring Great Hearts elementary school. Chasse Clement explained the significance of inviting the younger students to watch the performance, a new tradition that they started just two years ago. “This year, with ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ we knew it was the perfect moment. They read it, and we were so excited to reach back out to them. It’s a beautiful opportunity for them to see what’s forthcoming in their journey through a Great Hearts school and to look forward to the next steps.”

The stage production is based on the classic children’s novel written by L. Frank Baum in 1900, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” a timeless work of literature that the fifth graders are familiar with, as it is one of the books on their fourth grade reading list with Great Hearts.

Several of the lead actors have been involved in productions for years, including senior Abigail Guttman, who plays Dorothy. Guttman, who has been in 20 shows at Scottsdale Prep, was overjoyed to land the role. “I am so excited about playing Dorothy. I was Dorothy for Halloween last year, and then I found out that the show was ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, if I get Dorothy, I would literally explode,’” she said, recounting the nerve-wracking week of auditions and her emotional reaction to seeing the cast list.

“I’ve been doing shows here since fifth grade, and it’s really fun. We really are a family,” shared Guttman. The close friendships between cast members, many of whom have worked together for years, make each production a deeply personal experience. Guttman even admitted, “We cry before every show because all the seniors are leaving.”

The seniors in the cast include students who have been a part of Scottsdale Prep’s theater program since middle school, including those playing the Wizard, the Lion, the Tin Man, and the Wicked Witch. Performing in their final high school musical is bittersweet for them. But it is also a celebration of the years of script reads, rehearsals, costumes, and curtain calls. Many memories that that they will look back on fondly.

The cast and crew have worked tirelessly to prepare for the performances which premiered on October 3^rd, but there’s still two chances to see it on stage – October 4^th at 7:00 PM and a matinee performance on October 5^th at 2:00 PM at Scottsdale Prep’s Performing Arts Theater. Tickets are available online and at the door. Director Chasse Clement and the young cast invite you to “follow the yellow brick road” and celebrate this classic production with them.

Do you have a story or know of a story that you would like to see featured at Great Hearts? Please contact jason.moore@greathearts.org.