Fresno Christian’s Spring Musical, “The Wizard of Oz,” brings a lively and entertaining performance to the stage with both humor and strong acting, giving the senior performers a wonderful send-off. Director Susan Ainley and the cast dedicated many months of hard work to create a magical performance.
The iconic musical is based on the classic children’s fantasy novel,“The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” which follows Dorothy (played by K’lanna McArn), in her journey to return home after her house landed in Oz. She encounters characters like the Scarecrow, (played by Max Neal), the Tin-Man (played by Matt Tacchino) and finally the Cowardly Lion, (played by Olivia Saldivar) Due to the popular storyline, the cast interpreted each scene with their own personality and creativity, giving them a sense of connection with the show.
One of the most impactful parts of the show was that it served as the final performance for three senior cast members, making the production feel even more meaningful. That impact is especially felt by younger cast members who have looked up to them throughout their time in the drama class.
Sophomore Lilia Israelyan, who played the Wicked Witch and Miss Almira Gulch, has been in drama since seventh grade and has known most of the seniors since she was in middle school.
“They’re like my older siblings; they always look out for us,” Israelyan said. “I will be missing them so much, but I’m happy for them to start a new chapter in their lives.”
The production also stands out for its funny and blissful moments, keeping the audience hooked throughout the musical with humor and personality. That energy reflects not only on stage but also off stage.
Senior Matt Tacchino, who played Hickory and the Tin Man, has been in drama his entire high school career. He especially enjoys bonding with his cast on and off stage.
“Working with the cast is kind of like being on the set of a sitcom,” Tacchino said,“There’s always something fun and interesting happening in any corner of the auditorium,” .
The cast takes on the challenges to bring the play to life on the Fresno Christian stage. Both the colorful scenes in Munchkin land and the more serious scenes in Kansas provide the actors with emotions they need to make the characters unique to the audience. The main actors played two roles throughout the show, hanging personalities and energy quickly between roles.
Addison Stoick, ‘28, played Aunt Em and Glinda the Good Witch, being challenged in playing two roles back to back.
“Switching between characters was really cool since they have a completely different vibe, so it was a fun challenge. To make them more distinct and different, I changed my voice for both,” said Stoick.
Another highlight is Munchkin Land, where elementary students take part in the performance. Their appearance adds a cute and energetic element to the show, bringing extra excitement to the stage. Their enthusiasm helps create one of the most memorable parts of the musical and shows the strong connection between different age groups in the school’s drama program.
The Wizard of Oz by Fresno Christian’s Drama is a combination of humor, emotions, and creativity that leaves a great impression on the audience with their great connection within the cast. Creating a meaningful performance for the three seniors as their last performance, turning a classic story into reality, showing commitment by all the performers and the stage crew.
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Susan Ainley • May 14, 2026 at 9:18 am
Wonderful article, brought back all the memories! Such a great cast, we really had the best time putting this show together.