SHAMOKIN - High school students from Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School will return to the stage and present "The Wizard of Oz" at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Northumberland County Career and Arts Center.
"Bye Bye Birdie," performed in April 2011, was the last musical presented by the school which involved high school students.
The cast of 25 students from grades seven through 12 is led by sophomore Erika Kapushinski, who portrays Dorothy. Last summer Kapushinski played a "Candy Kid" in Anthracite Citizens' Theater's production of "Willy Wonka."
The Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion are played by seniors Shawn Khanna, William Stewart and Riley Feese, respectively.
Khanna is relatively new to the musical scene, but lent his guitar skills to "The Roads," an original musical comedy written and directed by Meagan Baumgartner.
Stewart and Feese are stage veterans. Stewart starred in "Bye Bye Birdie" and Feese participated in the school's 2010 production of "Godspell."
The "Wizard of Oz" also features Angelica Masser as "The Wicked Witch" and Katianna Lapotsky as "Glinda."
The musical is under the direction of Sandra Snyder, high school music and elementary band teacher. Staff are Joyce Sickora and Katrina Gownley, assistant directors; Bonny Klinger, accompanist; Mike Barry, drums; Lee Ann Smith, costume coordinator, and Matt Leavens and Victor Ginitz, art directors.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students. Children not yet in school will be admitted for free.