An Okotoks mother knows exactly where her little munchkins are spending their time these days.
They are at the Highwood Memorial Centre in High River rehearsing for Windmill Theatre Players’ production of The Wizard of Oz and mom, Trisha Newman, is right there with her daughters Emily, 9, and Adryann, 12.
Newman, a Kindergarten teacher at Dr. Morris Gibson School in Okotoks, is returning to the stage after a nine-year hiatus.
“My dad (Kevin Newman) read about it in the newspaper (The Western Wheel) and because this play has kids in it, he thought we should try out for it,” said Adryann. “My mom used to be in plays when I was really little and she’s doing it too…. It’s really fun.”
It’s the first time all three Newmans have been on stage together.
“Kevin said ‘It’s with children, so you have to take the girls,’” Trisha said. “It’s been really a long time since I was in a production and I really missed it.
“When I saw I could do it with my daughters I was excited and thought I would give it a go.”
The daughters found out, unlike the famous play, in theatre the roads aren’t paved with gold, there’s plenty of hard work.
“We had to sing ‘Follow the Yellow Brick Road’ (in the audition) and we made it,” Emily said.
They have had rehearsals sometimes three times a week, and virtually every Sunday since those auditions in August in preparation for the opening this week.
Trisha, who used to produce plays as a teacher at Senator Riley School in High River years ago, keeps an eye on her daughters but leaves the directing for Oz to director Carol Knox, a teacher at Big Rock School.
“It’s been fun for me but it’s busy having my daughters back there,” Trisha said. “I just can’t worry about me. I had to help them with their make-up and their costume changes at the start but they are much more independent now.”
They do get some direction at home, however.
“Sometimes mom will tell us that we have to sing louder when we are Munchkins or that we have to always stay in character when we are on stage,” Emily explained.
As a former drama teacher, Trisha knows the benefits of having her children involved in theatre.
“It helps them build confidence, it makes them more aware of themselves and they are learning to work with others,” Trisha said. “It’s exciting for me to see them learn about the craft of theatre and what’s involved.
“You can’t learn without experiencing it.”
As for Kevin, an avid football fan, he’s pulled off the coupe of the century. Having your wife and daughters gone every Sunday so you can lounge on the sofa and watch 12 football games at the same time is pure genius — worthy of the prestigious Golden Remote Control Award if such a thing existed.
Not quite.
“He’s been bringing food for the potluck (at the rehearsals) — he’s been doing a lot of cooking and cleaning,” Trisha said.
Other Okotoks residents in the production include Breighanne Brandford, Evan Nisi and Heather Avis who are also extras in the play.
There will be four dinner plays of the Wizard of Oz, Nov. 18, 19, 24 and 25. The buffet starts at 6 p.m. with the curtain rising at 7:30 p.m.
There is an evening performance Nov. 17 and Nov. 26 at 7:30 p.m. A matinee performance is on Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. All performances are at the Highwood Memorial Centre in High River.
For ticket information call Celia Penman at 403-652-7913 or email at [email protected]
For further information go to www.windmilltheatreplayers.com
