Vina stages first large theatre production

What began as a trial run with a ninth-grade English class reading “Romeo and Juliet” has grown into a full theater program set to showcase its first large production May 6.

Vina High School will be taking audiences down the yellow brick road May 6 at 5 p.m. with “The Wizard of Oz.”

“There are no words to describe this,” said English and drama teacher Sarah Jane Hattaway. “You start something out just thinking it would be a good idea, and then you have this two years later.”

Hattaway said the production was supposed to happen this past year but was canceled because of COVID-19.

“This really is the first big production we are going to be able to do, and we are so excited for it,” Hattaway said.

The drama class of 16 students has been working on the show all school year with the creation of sets and costumes.

“Originally we thought we were just going to make it as visually appealing as possible and record it, but then when restrictions began to lift, we saw we were able to do a show for a live audience in a limited capacity,” Hattaway said.

Hattaway said since the idea for a drama class first began, she has seen the students involved grow to love the stage and increase in confidence.

“You really see these students come out of their shells,” Hattaway said. “We are a small school, so we don’t have a ton of options. This gives them something.”

The show will begin at 5 p.m. May 6, with limited seating capacity.

There is no admission cost, but there will be voting in the lobby for the best actor, and T-shirts will be sold.

“We are very excited for this,” Hattaway said. “It is so much more than I would have thought possible.”