Shemar Molyneaux makes his entrance on stage during an eCamps production of The Wiz at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium on Sunday evening. Photo: CHRISTINA KISSOON

“Aunt Em! Aunt Em!” Simone Phillips cried as smoke spread across the stage and thunder erupted throughout the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium.

An imaginary tornado was about to sweep through the building, and Ms. Phillips was playing the role of Dorothy in the eCampers’ stage version of the 1978 film The Wiz.

Shemar Molyneaux makes his entrance on stage during an eCamps production of The Wiz at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium on Sunday evening. Photo: CHRISTINA KISSOON
The production, which packed the house, was put on by more than 40 youths and a handful of adults.

Though the show was guided by The Wiz – a musical that is itself an African-American adaptation of the movie The Wizard of Oz – the eCampers added modern touches of their own.

The performance included lengthy dialogues, as well as dancing and songs such as “The Feeling that We Have” and “He’s The Wizard.”

There was comedy too. When it was time for Dorothy to return to Kansas, her hot air balloon didn’t float: Instead, it was pushed across the floor by The Wiz (Shemar Molyneaux), who made car noises with his mouth.

“I enjoyed everything, and I liked the modern take on it,” said Albert Thompkins, the father of one of the cast members. “And I think everyone did a great job. They did the entire play very well, [and], yes, I did see it when I was younger.”

Hard work

For Ms. Phillips, playing the lead role was hard work, but enjoyable.

“It was sort of stressful at first, but it was a lot of fun and it was a really great experience,” said the Elmore Stoutt High School student, adding that the production followed about four months of rehearsals. “This is my first time being a main character, but I do like acting. I’m in theatre arts in high school.”

Though there were a few hitches in the show, she said, the overall performance was a success.

“I think the whole feedback was really nice,” she added.

Via Donovan-Hodge was pleased that the youths got a chance to get involved with a theatre production.

“It was a good initiative for arts in the community since we don’t see a lot of that being encouraged here,” she said. “So, you know, for kids in the generation coming up who want to pursue theatre and acting, this is an amazing opportunity for them.”

At the end of the final scene, Ms. Phillips sang “Home” by Diana Ross, and she clicked her silver heels together and counted from one to three.

Then the production ended with all cast members coming onstage to dance and sing.

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