DECATUR – East Central Community College’s Encore performers will present their spring musical selection, “Wizard of Oz,” March 26-28, in the Vickers Fine Arts Auditorium on campus.

    Natalie Emmons, who is serving her second year as “Encore” director, said, “In this charming film based on the popular L. Frank Baum stories, Dorothy and her dog, Toto, are caught in a tornado’s path and somehow end up in the land of Oz.

    “Here she meets some memorable friends and foes in her journey to meet the Wizard of Oz, who everyone says can help her return home and possibly grant her new friends their goals of a brain, heart and courage.”

    Makenzie Rowzee of Hickory and Tallie Johnston of Lake will share the lead role of Dorothy.

Additional cast members and their respective hometowns include Jonathan Hodge (Scarecrow), Rachel Clay (Glinda the Good Witch), Zachary Emmons (Mayor of Munchkin City) and Anthony Emmons (Coroner of Munchkin City), all of Lake; Kirk Griffin (Tin Man), Stephen Stewart (Hunk the Human Scarecrow), Sam Mitchell (Hickory the Human Tin Man), Courtney Tillman (Aunt Em) and David Wilson (Professor Marvel), all of Decatur; Houston Martin (Lion), Edinburg; Dee Jay Rollison (Zeke the Human Lion), Conehatta; Matt Mason (Uncle Henry), Union; Bristol Buffington (Misses Gulch), Louisville; Haleigh West (Glinda the Good Witch), Hickory; Anna Girling (The Wicked Witch), Carthage; Katie Forteberry (Doorkeep of Emerald City), Raleigh; and Brad Taylor (Wizard of Oz), Stratton.

    Playing the parts of Munchkins/Ozians are Kimberly Talbert, Courtney Hamilton and Cady Smith, all of Philadlephia; Kimberly Harrison, Kristen Gordy, and Lindsay Hedge, all of Forest; Madison Barnett of Noxapater; Danielle Gregory of Little Rock; Hannah Mitchell of Meridian; Courtney Williams of Hickory; Rebecca Tero and Mackenzie Gannon, both of Decatur; and Katie Bradley of Conehatta.

    The Flying Monkeys will be played by Hannah Mitchell of Meridian; Faith Emmons and Tyler Richardson, both of Lake; and Sara Thorne of Noxapater.

    Casted as Guards are Courtney Tillman, David Wilson, Stephen Stewart, Sam Mitchell, Alana Kron and Sarah Freeman, all of Decatur; Matt Mason, Union; and Greyson Dye, Carthage.

    Playing the part of the Trees are Kaishanna Young of Philadlephia and Mary Levine of Louisville.

    Poppies will be played by Courtney Hamilton and Cady Smith, both of Philadelphia; Hannah Mitchell of Meridian, Katie Bradley of Conehatta, Mackenzie Gannon of Decatur, Danielle Gregory of Little Rock, Lindsay Hedge of Forest and Courtney Williams of Hickory.

    Area youngsters playing roles include Tate Emmons of Lake as Toto, Jamey Savell of Conehatta, Lilly Gibson of Lake and Emma Vaughn of Decatur, all members of the Lullaby League; and John Davis Gibson and Griffin Boles, both of Lake, and Chas Michael Evans of Decatur, all members of the Lollipop Guild.