Director Andrea Royse’s use of two casts Ashland High School showcases a lot of talent; the final shows are this Saturday

By Holly Dillemuth, Ashland.news  

Don’t miss your chance to experience the Ashland High School production of “Wizard of Oz” in its closing weekend.

After taking Thanksgiving week off from the yellow brick road, Dorothy and crew are off again to see the wizard, with a performance at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, and two final performances at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. This year’s winter musical, which is directed by theater teacher Andrea Royse, has two casts, Emerald and Ruby, made up of students from elementary grades to high school seniors.

Performances started Nov. 19, with a break in shows until this weekend’s shows, which began Thursday, Dec. 4.

The production is from the “Royal Shakespeare Company version of the play, which follows the 1939 film “fairly closely,” Royse said. It includes “The Jitterbug,” a dance scene deleted from the movie, as a musical number. 

“There’s some opportunities for big dance numbers, which we took advantage of those opportunities, so I think it’s just a really great way for lots of kids to really shine,” Royse said.

Royse said opening weekend shows were well received by audiences.

“We had pretty packed houses (at) every show,” she said.

The production’s two casts, Emerald and Ruby, have allowed students to alternate roles between shows, giving equal time for each role. Instead of a lead and understudy, both students play equal parts. 

“Two different flavors to the same character, and done equally well — it’s entertaining to see what they bring to each cast,” Royse said.

Some students and audience members will remember the model as one used by Royse when she served as theater arts teacher at Ashland Middle School.

“Double casting means four times as much work, but it’s totally worth it for the opportunities that the kids get, and we just have so much talent,” Royse said.

For instance, the character of Dorothy is played by Ashland High junior Zinnia Merwin (Emerald cast) and sophomore Violet Keiser (Ruby cast), both of whom will alternate shows in the roles.

Royse said that for Dorothy’s character, she was looking for someone who could portray innocence well.

Zinnia “has an absolutely beautiful singing voice,” Royse said. “I first heard her sing when she was in fifth grade and I was absolutely blown away.”

“They both have a very different innocence, and I think that Violet’s brand of innocence … it’s very endearing,” Royse said.

Royse said she believes it’s really important that Dorothy is looking at both Kansas and Oz with fresh, innocent eyes.

“Of course Dorothy has to sing beautifully, and I’ve got some great singers,” she said.

Southern Oregon Repertory Singers have been on hand this fall to offer group voice lessons to students, with Rogue Music Academy offering lessons to soloists.

“When I first came into the program, that was one of my big focus points, was community connections. And because Ashland is so rich in artists and people who support programs like ours, I wanted to make sure that we could make those connections and keep the connections we have really strong,” Royse said.

The Wicked Witch is played by senior Cora Turner and junior Lily Glosser. 

“We’ve been working on the (witch’s) cackle,” Royse said, “and neither of them are like the movie at all.”

Royse said she had a large crew of student makeup artists backstage this year, some whom she handpicked while walking around the high school.

“It takes two hours to put on the witch’s makeup,” Royse said.

“We used a water-based makeup (for the witches) so that it doesn’t smear and run and it doesn’t clog pores as much as an oil-based makeup does.”  

The production will showcase props and a fog machine to help the Wicked Witch make an entrance — “and she’s gotta melt,” Royse said. But she said wanted to focus the play on the students, “not spending money on special effects.

“As much as we can have the kids acting, that’s where we want the magic to be,” Royse said.

The Lion is played by newcomer and senior Sixten Ljungkvist and sophomore Carter Franks.

The Tin Man is played by juniors Ethan Stachel and Ace Mikolichek.

The 40 munchkins of Munchkinland are played by third-, fourth- and fifth-graders from Bellview, Helman and Walker elementary schools as well as TRAILS Outdoor School and Willow Wind. The group is being organized by middle school choir director Amy Merwin.

Royse said she didn’t think she would get that many primary students, but said it’s “amazing, because that’s my future, right there.”

“It’s pretty darn cute,” Royse said.

Royse said she was able to use a full set of Wizard of Oz-specific costumes from David Douglas High School in Portland, where she served as a student teacher more than a decade ago.

“Costumes are big for the show,” she said.

“They’ve been updated and fixed and some of them have been replaced, but when I saw them, I thought, ‘This is exactly it.’ They come with history and it’s also circling back to 15 years ago when I was doing my student teaching.”

Royse said “The Wizard of Oz” is one her favorite shows and she chose the production to get students excited and draw in audiences of all ages.

“It’s seriously a timeless story and the characters are relatable,” Royse said.

And with the buzz around the “Wicked: For Good” movie this year, a new generation can enjoy it, both on and off stage.

“We didn’t choose it because of “Wicked” — but it was definitely a factor,” she said.

Students in the musical were able to see a showing of “Wicked: For Good” together over Thanksgiving break as part of a way to keep inspiration flowing.

“We’re working with the Southern Oregon Repertory Singers, and they sponsored us to go have a private showing of “Wicked” at the Varsity (Theatre),” Royse said, noting students had a blast seeing their characters in a different light.

“I think this weekend’s going to be different partially because of the movie,” she added.

She said that while many of her students are more familiar with “Wicked,” many of them haven’t seen the 1939 film version of “The Wizard of Oz” starring Judy Garland.

“I think a lot of older generations, including my own, kind of grew up having seen it multiple times and having it be just a part of the landscape,” Royse said.

“There are some kids who have seen it, and it shows,” Royse said with a laugh.

And if there are feelings Royse wants to leave audiences with?

“Joy — just joy,” she said, “and that comes in so many different forms. It can be nostalgia, it can be wonder, it can be connection.”

When putting the play together, Royse also said she wanted to be as inclusive as possible, she said.

“We do have quite a few actors that have autism or other intellectual disabilities and I know that there used to be a program called Project Up, Royse said.

“We’re going to bring that back so that there’s actually more opportunities for kids with disabilities,” Royse said.

“If you just go to the show, you’re not going to know,” she added. 

“They stuck to it,” she added. “With a little push and a lot of support … they were really able to do some amazing stuff they’re really proud of.”

“Right after Wizard of Oz is over, we’re going to restart Project Up and give these kids some opportunities.” 

For tickets, $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors, click here.

Shows are free for Ashland School District employees, Thespian members and children 5 and under.

In other thespian news, Royse announced that Ashland High School’s theatre will produce “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in March.

Reach Ashland.news reporter Holly Dillemuth at [email protected].

Related story: Ashland High School Theatre presents ‘Wizard of Oz’ musical Saturday (Nov. 21, 2025)