BVA to bring the magic of ‘Wizard of Oz’ to life

The cast, crew and orchestra members of Belle Vernon Area’s “The Wizard of Oz” are shown. Courtesy of BVA

The curtain goes up at 7 tonight at Belle Vernon Area High School for the annual spring musical.

The Yellow Brick Road is leading straight to Belle Vernon Area High School as more than 100 students will bring the magical world of “The Wizard of Oz” to life.

Belle Vernon Area students will debut the beloved musical tonight, bringing the infamous Wicked Witch of the West and her flying monkeys to the high school stage.

Today’s opening show starts at 7 p.m. at Belle Vernon Area High School, 425 Crest Ave., Belle Vernon. Other show times are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and a 2 p.m. Sunday matinee.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for BVA students attending the musical. Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.bvabroadway. com/home.

Their cast and crew for this year’s spring musical is around 100 students, making it a large production for Belle Vernon Area High School. Producer Mark Surovchak said this year’s spring musical includes students from the district’s middle and elementary schools.

“We wanted to do a show that was going to incorporate our elementary and middle school students as well,” Surovchak said. “So we have many munchkins that are of the elementary and middle school age that have been getting to spend time making friends and memories up on stage, having their own stage debuts, and it’s a family- friendly show that everybody knows.” Several cast members told the Mon Valley Independent this is a can’t-miss show.

Benjamin Bowman, who plays the Wizard and Professor Marvel, said they are ready to go for opening night.

“Any show I’ve had in the past, there’s bumps and whatnot, but I feel like there’s just this point where everyone likes to lock in, and that’s when the shows really come together, and when it becomes fun to perform,” Bowman said.

With the recent “Wicked” films that have brought the Tony-winning Broadway show on the big screen, the land of Oz has surged in popularity.

Areyanah Bobbs, who plays the Wicked Witch, said their musical features songs from the original 1939 film.

“People should definitely come see the show, just because it’s such a classic film, brought to a high school stage, performed by an amazing cast and crew, that I think a lot of people would really appreciate what we’ve been able to perform,” Bobbs said.

Levi Barkley, who plays the Tin Man, noted how special BVA musicals are.

“Please come see the show,” Barkley said. “I think that we’re probably one of the best schools around to see such high quality performances and productions in general.”

Jakob Coneybeer, who is playing Uncle Henry, reiterated the work they’ve put into the show.

“If you want an amazing show with lots of laughter, but also its own good amount of kind of suspense and actual story to it, this is what you want to see, it’s probably one of the best shows that I’ve been in,” Coneybeer said. “I’ve been in pretty few but still, this is a great show. Lots of talent and effort and time has gone into making this, and I think we’re gonna put out a really great product.”

Leonidas Soto, who plays the Scarecrow, and Nella Spedaliere, who is the Cowardly Lion noted how fun some of the costumes are. Soto specifically pointed out Bowman’s costume.

“I think his (Bowman) costume fits in very well,” Soto said. “I feel like when he puts it on, he has his voice and his attitude. I feel like it just works out the best out of everyone’s.”

Spedaliere said that the Cowardly Lion costume is pretty fun on its own.

“It’s really fun being in the lion costume because it’s just cool, it has the tail, it has the mane, it has everything,” Spedaliere said.

This is the last year performing on the high school stage for Sarah Shenouda, who plays Dorothy, and Alexa Gray, who is Aunt Em, Barkley and Bobbs. For the seniors, their theater experience at BVA will be something they remember beyond their high school years.

“It’s sort of like a surreal kind of feeling that this is going to be my last show at this school,” Shenouda said. “I mean, I’ve been doing shows here since my freshman year, and it’s been like a journey. And I love the whole cast and I love the entire production staff, so it’ll be hard to say goodbye.”

For Gray, performing in musicals signifies growth during her time at BVA High School.

“Looking back on it, it’s kind of crazy because my freshman year, I was not interested in doing musicals at all, until a very good friend of mine recommended that I do them,” Gray said. “And I thought, I’ll do it for her just one time, and then I really fell in love with it. So it is kind of surreal to think of where I am now, because I might not have done it in the first place.”

The BVA Broadway 2026 Wizard of Oz cast features: Sarah Shenouda (Dorothy); Leonidas Soto (Hunk/ Scarecrow); Levi Barkley (Hickory/Tin Man); Nella Spedaliere (Zeke/Cowardly Lion); Areyanah Bobbs (Miss Gulch/Wicked Witch); Benjamin Bowman (Professor Marvel/The Wizard); Karolina Barajas (Glinda); Alexa Gray (Aunt Em); Jakob Coneybeer (Uncle Henry); Izzy Falcone (Coroner); Spencer Anderson (Mayor); Gi Di-Simone (Barrister); Peighton Wessel (Nikko/Fiddler); Randy Munsky (Winkie General); Jakob Coneybeer (Emerald City Guard). Lollipop Guild: Mason Stasicha, Jackson Tarr, Theo Weightman. Lullaby League: Samantha Amaya, Daphne Klorczyk, Lennon Tarr. Munchkins: Samantha Amaya, Elle Barbao, Sofia Castellon, Sofia Corella, Noel Escoreal, Makenna Folmar, Grace Folmar, Brinley Grisib, Piper House, Hadley Just, Daphne Klorczyk, Connor LaMendola, Drew McDivitt, Graycen Musisko, Liliana Orris, Julianna Sokol, Mason Stasicha, Dax Stewart, Maislee Stonick, Josie Tabacca, Lennon Tarr, Jackson Tarr, Emilie Wasyliw, Grace Weightman, Theo Weightman. Crows: Henry Boldyzar, Jakob Coneybeer, Christian Reno. Trees: Gianna Holliday, Daleah Mowat, Bella Sokol.

Flying Monkeys: Spencer Anderson, Lucy Eisengart, Avianna Foringer, Alainah Lohr, Zoey Williams, Peighton Wessel, Caitlin Lobenberg.

Winkies: Henry Boldyzar, Logan Campbell, Gi DeSimone, Marco Espejo, Aiden Gordano, Hunter McGavit, Christian Reno, Riley Schulter.

Dance Captains: Peyton Chalus, Ally Peden.

Trees Tap Dancers: Elizabeth Beere, Peyton Chalus, Helena Fradenburgh, Ally Peden, Mia Tabacca, Gabi Wasyliw. Jitterbug Dancers: Elizabeth Beere, Emma Burkley, Peyton Chalus, Helena Fradenburgh, Ally Peden, Mia Tabacca, Laurel Vanassa, Gabi Wasyliw, Joselynn Wray.

Ensemble (Tornado, Poppies, Snow, Ozians): Spencer Anderson, Karolina Barajas, Levi Barkley, Elizabeth Beere, Marayla Bluemling, Areyanah Bobbs, Henry Boldyzar, Benjamin Bowman, J Brasher, Emma Burkley, Logan Campbell, Peyton Chalus, Jakob Coneybeer, Gi DeSimone, Lucy Eisengart, Marco Espejo, Isabella Falcone, Avianna Foringer, Abigail Foster, Helena Fradenburgh, Aiden Giordano, Alexa Gray, Abygail Harris, Angel Harris, Gianna Holliday, Mia Johnson, Mary Joyce, Brooke Kremer, Madison Krofek, Miley Kuester, Cynthia Kyles, Brook Lesko, Caitlin Lobenberg, Alainah Lohr, Nina Luckowski, Seth McDivitt, Savannah McDonough, Jordyn Mc-Dowell, Hunter McGavitt, Jayden Montgomery, Jacob Montgomery, Daleah Mowat, Randy Munsky, Elisabeth Olbrys, Ally Peden, Olivia Reed, Christian Reno, Laila Rossell, Riley Schulter, Sarah Shenouda, Isabella Sokol, Leonidas Soto, Nella Spedaliere, Mia Tabacca, Kaitlyn True, Lauryl Vanassa, Gabi Wasyliw, Peighton Wessel, Zoey Williams, Joselynn Wray. Sound and Light Crew: Alexander Bird, Jaiden Book, Kaden Coughenour, Stephen Crawford, and Samuel Ruschak. Stage Crew: Sean Allshouse, Emily Antonic, Sarah Callaway, Olivia Hill, Evan Howlett, Tyler Kulasa, Natalie Longnecker, Seth Mc-Divitt, Daniel Mowat, Sophia Paulovich. Pit Orchestra: Maddlin Bandalo, Cason Blair, Kyleigh Brumfield-Biagiotti, Alexandra Bobbs, Payton Carr, Rhylee Howlett, Charles Lee, Liam Peroney, Grace Ruschak, Skylar Salay, Jordan Sisley, Ace Umana, Matthew Umana.