Young — but experienced — actors shine as Dorothy in Springfield Little Theatre's 'The Wizard of Oz' - Springfield Daily Citizen (2024)

A pair of young, but veteran, actors shine in the iconic role of Dorothy in Springfield Little Theatre’s production of “The Wizard of Oz,” but it’s a four-legged debutante that might steal the show.

“The Wizard of Oz” runs Sept. 13-29, with 13 shows at the Historic Landers Theatre on the schedule. Betsy Cybluski and Charley Wasson take turns playing Dorothy, joined by Grace the Border Terrier as Toto.

“We double-cast the Dorothys because it’s a lot, and they are just amazing kids,” Beth Domann, the show’s director, said before rehearsal Sept. 10. “It’s intimidating to play Dorothy. I mean, it’s Judy freaking Garland, you know? And they give it their own little spin.”

A ‘dynamic’ double casting as Dorothy

Cybluski and Wasson have been with Springfield Little Theatre for more than a decade. They’ve gone from taking classes to participating in junior and mainstage productions and are both about the same age Garland was when she played Dorothy in the original movie.

“In ‘Matilda,’ Charley played Matilda and I played Lavender, so we’ve kind of reunited,” Cybluski said. “We’ve been in plenty of shows here. We’re very, very thankful.”

Despite playing Dorothy on different nights, the duo has developed a working relationship that warms their director’s heart.

“They’ve worked so hard and they work beautifully together, which I love,” Domann said. “I love that they’re so supportive of each other and work and help each other. They’re really dynamic.”

‘I was a superfan’

Dorothy has been an easy character for Wasson to play. She has plenty of experience with red ruby slippers.

“Oh my gosh, I love ‘The Wizard of Oz,’” she said. “When I was little, I think I dressed up as Dorothy three years in a row for Halloween and I had a Dorothy-themed birthday party. I was a superfan.”

Cybluski’s love doesn’t run quite as deep, but she said she embraces the pressure of playing such an iconic role.

“It’s exciting to take on,” she said. “Whenever people come see a Disney production (at Springfield Little Theatre), all the little girls come up to us as that princess. We know there are going to be little girls dressed up in their ruby slippers and blue dresses, and little kids dressed up as the Scarecrow and the Lion and the Tin Man. I’m really excited to see these little girls and take pictures with them.”

Letting go and being present

Wasson said the duo hopes to honor Garland as they play Dorothy. Domann has been coaching them on how to, at the same time, make the character their own.

“Some good advice I’ve taken is not to hold back, not overanalyze everything, and just to go for it,” Wasson said. “Sometimes I overthink the process, but if I just let myself go, I find myself to really be with Dorothy in the character and to really be able to play that role.”

Cybluski, too, is trying to let go and be present.

“Beth always just says, ‘If you feel it, that’s what you know you have to do,’” she said. “If you feel your character wanting to move, you can move. As everybody knows, acting is reacting and just being alive within a scene, having that light in your eye and just really being present in whatever you’re doing.”

So far so good, according to Domann.

“Sometimes you just have to put it out of your mind, what other people have done, and make it yours,” Domann said. “And they each have their own spin on it, their own take and attack on the role. I’m really proud of them.”

Grace the Border Terrier makes her stage debut

While the Dorothies are veterans, the actor playing Toto is brand new to the stage — and so is her trainer. When Domann needed a dog, she reached out to her cousin, Dr. Kerry Wantuck of Healing Paws Veterinary Clinic. The first canine couldn’t do the show, so Wantuck connected Domann with Misty Bowen, Grace’s owner.

“This dog is perfect,” Domann said. “As an actor, working with an animal on stage can be hell on earth, and Grace, she’s the most chill dog ever. She’s very well-trained and she looks perfect. I’m telling you, I don’t know if anybody will even notice the actors when Grace is on stage.”

Bowen said she did a lot of work with Grace as well as Cybluski and Wasson to prepare for the show, including relationship-building.

“They play with her and give her lots of treats and lots of love,” Bowen said. “And I’ve taught them a few tricks, like telling her to sit and down and spin around. So whenever we see them, she’s like, ‘My friends!’ and takes off running to them.”

It didn’t take the Dorothies long to warm up to their co-star.

“I’ve never worked with a live animal on stage before, but Grace is so well-behaved,” Wasson said. “I haven’t even heard the dog bark yet. She’s so awesome.”

Added Cybluski, “It’s been so amazing. She’s always there anytime we need something to cheer us up.”

Cybluski and Wasson will no doubt feel some nerves before the show. So will Bowen.

“It’s been a big learning curve for both of us, meeting all the people and learning about the theater and where we need to be and all of that,” she said. “(There will be nerves) for sure. Will she go where she’s supposed to be? Will I know where I’m supposed to be? Because I will be backstage and whenever she’s supposed to go off, she’s going to come to me. Will I be in the right place to catch her? Will she be doing what she’s supposed to do? It’s a lot.”

Music director, choreographer also grew up with SLT

Domann is directing a cast of 80 for the show, with assistance from two more veterans who grew up in Springfield Little Theatre. Music director Clayton Avery played the Cowardly Lion in SLT’s previous production of “The Wizard of Oz,” which he calls one of his favorite roles ever. He started taking classes at age 9 and continued to act through high school and college. He is preparing to make his conducting debut.

“I have music-directed other things in the past,” Avery said. “Most of them were kids’ shows, junior shows, which are tracked, so this is my first time working with a live orchestra. I’ve been in orchestras before, but this is my first time conducting one, so that’s been exciting and intimidating. But I feel like I’m kind of getting it now.”

It doesn’t hurt that the material is familiar to his musicians.

“A lot of them have already played the show, whether it was our last production or a high school in the area or whatever,” Avery said. “Most of our orchestra members have played the show before, so that has been helpful to me, too.”

Choreographer Josh Inmon started at Springfield Little Theatre when he was a freshman in high school — about 20 years ago — and never left. He, like Cybluski and Wasson, is working to put his own spin on a show audiences already know and love.

“Of course, we want to honor those moments that people expect to see on stage. They’re going to be there,” Inmon said. “But it’s been really fun to kind of put our own twist on it, our own version of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and that kind of spectacle that people are so used to seeing (at Springfield Little Theatre). So it’s been really fun.

“And it’s been so fun to work with Beth. She’s one of my main mentors and she cast me in my first show here, 21 years ago, so to be able to work with her and work alongside her is just really an honor.”

The feeling is mutual.

“I’ve worked with them before, obviously, as actors and I’ve worked with Josh as a choreographer,” Domann said. “It’s been really fun. They’re adults now, you know? Josh’s first show with me was ‘Peter Pan’ and I ended up having to be Smee because the guy playing Smee had to drop out. And so every night, he’s the one who I’d be like, ‘Josh, what is the dance? What are we doing?’ And he would walk me through it and get me through it.

“I’m really proud of them and who they are as people. They’re kind and generous and freakishly talented. It’s a little weird. But I’m really, really proud of everything they do.”