I believe this was the first whole-campus musical that has been staged in around four years and it provided an unforgettable evening of theatre in the SJ auditorium. Everything about the production spoke of talent and quality – from the performances on stage to the support behind the scenes.
——Iain Kilpatrick, Executive Headmaster
On the nights of April 17-18, the YK Pao High School put on their production of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ by Frank L. Baum, adapted by Frank Gabrielson. This script was chosen by Mr. Kobus van der Colff, the High School Head of Drama. ‘The Wizard of Oz’ is a one of his favorite movies, and its theme of “discovery and what it means to be true to yourself” is one he hoped students would gather. The movie was originally released in 1939, as one of the first to use technicolor. To mark this, the movie starts in black and white, only turning to colour once Dorothy arrives in the Land of Oz. The play was an adaptation of the original ‘The Wizard of Oz’, adding electronic music and a futuristic setting. The spectacle involved 24 actors, with more than 10 additional students working in the crew backstage, as designers, on props and costumes, makeup, and the multimedia set, supported by a dedicated team of teachers. This team, a school-led CCA called 'Pao Musical’, meeting twice a week starting in the first week of September when auditions were held, and concluding with the final performance in April. The CCA was led by Mr. van der Colff and Mr. Nicholas Howard.
The High School's first drama production in four years was a source of nervous excitement among students and teachers. Key factors like stage adaptability, script length, and audience appeal played crucial roles in choosing the production. The show had to adopt a minimalist approach due to the limited space on stage, prompting the crew to devise creative solutions.
Mr. van der Colff outlined the detailed process of theatrical production, stressing the significant behind-the-scenes efforts involved. Van de Colff led the crews, oversaw lighting design, and personally distributed boards and flyers in dorms to build anticipation among students. Embracing innovation, he leveraged AI alongside his original designs to create costumes. Despite stage and prop limitations, he used interactive elements to engage the audience, for instance by using rubber balls of fire for the scene where the Wicked Witch dissolves.
The triumph of the show relied on teamwork and collaboration among students and various school departments. Collaborating with Mrs. Bianca van der Colff, an art teacher at Songjiang Campus, the stage crew successfully crafted a set that fitted the space perfectly and ensured safety. A 32:9 screen served as an in-motion backdrop, skillfully managed by the team. Mrs. van der Colff and students Ashley Ge (Y9) and Yan Zidan (Y10) leveraged AI to brainstorm ideas for the background. Mrs. van der Colff then translated these concepts into her own designs, which were brought to life on the screen, drawing upon her skills as a multimedia artist.
High School Head of Music Nicholas Howard, and music teacher Christine Mazzei, spearheaded the musical elements essential to the performance. They were responsible for refining the song arrangements and ensuring each student mastered their parts, playing a pivotal role. Collaborating with students from the Electronic Music Club, they transformed the songs into electronic renditions more suited to the envisioned cyberpunk setting. Eric He, the club's president, crafted a remix of the song ‘If Only I Had the Nerve’, performed by the Cowardly Lion, drawing inspiration from Labirynth's style. Infusing his version with electronic drums, samples, and synthesizers, he created a unique electronic piece. The Electronic Music Club students delved deeply into their creativity, bringing their individual styles into the production, while preserving the essence of the original songs.
English teachers Edward LeMay and Melinda McCombe served as assistant directors for the production. Ms. McCombe provided support during dress rehearsals to ensure the students' lines were delivered accurately. Mr. LeMay offered guidance on script interpretation, musical performances, and choreography, conducting individual coaching sessions with the lead actors. Dora Zuo, a Year 12 student playing the role of Dorothy, remarked on the value of this assistance. She mentioned, in particular, Mr. LeMay's personal instructions on the song ‘Over the Rainbow’, which helped her understand the nuances of movement and expression while singing. This guidance boosted her confidence and comfort in portraying the play’s central character.
Dora was thrilled to be part of the senior year production, describing it as a dream come true. She expressed deep appreciation for the supportive theatre community that surrounded her, emphasizing the importance of mutual trust in bringing the show to life. When unforeseen challenges arose that nearly led to her stepping down, classmate Arwen Tan (Y12) stepped in and learned her lines in a short span of time, demonstrating an impressive dedication to the production. The cast was surprised but grateful for Arwen's involvement, but in the end Dora was able to return and perform her part. The show proceeded smoothly, and Arwen was able to resume her role of Aunty Em.
The production involved intricate choreographies set to various songs. Ariel Jiang served as the lead choreographer, with Ashley Ge supporting as the assistant choreographer. Both dedicated their weekends to mastering this aspect of the show at the studio with the help of two professional choreographers. After recording the routines, they personally taught them to the students, making adjustments along the way to enhance the performances. When an injury forced Ariel to step down, Ashley swiftly assumed the role of lead choreographer, while also taking on the part of the Munchkin in the show. Within a mere eight days before the opening night, she memorized her lines, walking stance, and dance. While the sudden change was challenging, she expressed gratitude for the opportunity and felt motivated by the encouragement among the cast members.
Producing the play posed many challenges to the students, who time and time again demonstrated their strength, adaptability and unwavering desire to succeed. They overcame hurdles that, although imaginable in the production of any play, are still uncommon. Such setbacks briefly threw them off course, but each time they returned stronger. Angelina, who played many characters including the Visiting Witch, said that teamwork was very important for the show to come together, especially during the later stage of preparations, when the performance date got closer. The students had to understand that the final product was not the most important part; instead, it was the culmination of a process, and of the learning that accompanies it.
As the curtain falls on this chapter of their theatrical journey, the students can look back with pride on all they have accomplished, knowing that they have not only put on a spectacular show, but also grown as individuals and artists. High School Principal James Lyng sends “a heartfelt thanks to every student involved in this production, as well as the dedicated staff and volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed, and they should be incredibly proud of what they have accomplished.”
