Editor’s note: Due to the coronovirus pandemic, high school musicals have been postponed.

Ligonier Valley High School’s musical production of “The Wizard of Oz” will offer plenty of familiar reference points for those who have grown up cherishing the classic MGM film of L. Frank Baum’s fantasy.

“We’re doing the version closest to the movie,” says director Brianna Grimm. “It has all of the musical numbers you expect, and the dialogue is almost word-for-word.”

That means Grace Maust, as Dorothy, will sing “Over The Rainbow,” and she’s been rehearsing the choreographed steps to “We’re Off To See The Wizard” with fellow seniors Josh Haines and Harrington Luther and junior Taylor Greggerson — cast, respectively, as the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion. All, save Haines, are Ligonier Township residents.

There are some additional treats in store as audience members follow the adventures of a girl who finds that she’s not in Kansas anymore.

Grimm notes the students will perform a full-length version of “The Jitterbug,” a musical number that was cut from the 1939 film.

“It calls for the jitterbugs to be dancing and wearing out Dorothy and her friends.” she says. “Our four leads are dancing full-out almost the entire time.”

Rachel Bodayla, who is choreographing the show, performed the same function for another recent Oz presentation, at neighboring Derry Area School District. Cosmetology students from the Eastern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center will help the actors complete some quick makeup changes.

In a couple more extra touches that weren’t in the movie, Grimm says, “during Scarecrow’s song ‘If I Only Had A Brain,’ there are three crows that sing and dance with him, and the Tin Man has three trees that sing and dance with him. It opens up more roles.”

Those who attend the Ligonier Valley musical will witness some inventive stagecraft. Prop master Brooke Grimm, Brianna’s sister, has been tasked with sculpting Oz’s imposing face. Mary Laughlin, a senior from Ligonier Township, will make her entrance as good witch Glinda on a “bubble.”

Some of the short-statured citizens of Munchkinland, including the mayor and the coroner, will be portrayed by students seated on wheeled stools created by George Kusner, who heads the set construction crew.

“They use their legs to pull themselves around,” Brianna Grimm explains. “They’ve had quite a lot of practice. Any chance they get, they like to wheel around.”

At the heart of the production, what really makes the story come alive, is the enthusiasm of the student cast.

“I enjoy working with the kids,” says Grimm. “They have such a love of performing. To see them really become the characters is definitely my favorite part.”

Maust and Haines have drawn upon their longtime friendship to portray the strong bond between Dorothy and the first close friend she makes in Oz.

It’s the first acting role for Haines, of Ligonier Borough, who is considering a career as an athletic trainer. While polishing Scarecrow’s energetic dance steps, he’s tapped into his past football drills and current track moves to “be able to do all the stuff on stage and not get tired. I like being acrobatic, so It’s going to be pretty fun for me.”

Maust, who will pursue studies in illustration and creative writing, has found it’s a big step moving from an ensemble wood nymph role in Ligonier Valley’s 2019 musical, “Into the Woods,” to the central part in this year’s production.

But, she said, “everyone in the cast makes it feel like something fun instead of work. Dorothy is so genuine and nice. Hopefully, her personality transfers a little bit into my personality.”

Senior Hannah Long, of Cook Township, is brushing up the baleful glare she perfected as The Witch of “Into the Woods” for her new Oz persona — the Wicked Witch of the West.

“The villains have always been my favorite parts to play,” says Long, whose goal is to work in mechanical engineering. “It’s a nice way to explore things from a different point of view.”

Compared to Stephen Sondheim’s character, Oz’s witch has less time on stage but is “a more overpowering presence,” Long says. “She’s the evil, driving force of all the bad things in Dorothy’s life.”

Though it’s not part of her career plan, Long hopes to keep her hand in theatrical productions in college and beyond.

She says, “I really like every aspect of doing theater — the costumes, the lighting, all the dances and the songs. It’s really cool to see all of that coming together.”