Lindsey Paul, who plays the scarecrow in a local production of "The Wiz," checks out her make-up in a mirror before a dress rehearsal on Wednesday. (Photo: Glenn Burkins for Qcitymetro.com)
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Fans of the legendary musical, “The Wiz,” will have a reason to ease on down the road to Hopewell High School this weekend.

Charlotte’s Porch Productions will stage three shows of the famous play starting Friday, Aug 19, and ending Sunday, Aug 21.

The on-stage musical, which in 1978 was turned into a musical film featuring Michael Jackson and Dianna Ross, was one of the first large-scale productions to feature an all-black cast on Broadway, where it ran for four years.

This weekend’s productions will go even further; the all-black cast will be almost entirely youths ages 5-18.

In all, 32 children will bring the classic tale of Dorothy and the “Wizard of Oz” to life.

The young thespians will be assisted by a crew of adults, led by producer Monica Pettiford and director Crystal Little, who make up Porch Productions.

Pettiford said the production company began in 2005 with the sole aim of giving on-stage exposure to black youths.

“The Wiz” was chosen for two reasons: First, it fit the group’s usual format of choice -- musicals with large casts to provide a plethora of roles for kids. And second, it is a favorite of Little.

“I have always loved ‘The Wiz’ since I was growing up,” Little said. “I just always wanted to do it. It’s a childhood favorite movie, and I wanted to put my own twist on it.”

At a Wednesday evening rehearsal, cast members (some roles will be played by adults) were busy squeezing into costumes and applying make-up. In the audience, children still in grade school played pat-a-cake while waiting their turn on stage. Lakise Long, who will play the role of Dorothy, was off to the side, trying to decide between two pairs of silver (not ruby) slipper – high heels or flats.

Little said audience members can expect to see a hybrid of the Broadway play and the movie, but with a Charlotte twist.
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Lakise Long, who plays the role of Dorothy, trys to decide which pair of silver slippers she likes best during a dress rehearsal on Wednesday. (Photo: Glenn Burkins for Qcitymetro.com)
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Pettiford and Little said the production has given several youth on-stage opportunities that they had not had before. Others got experience building the set.

JaVontre Booker will be playing the tin man. He is a student at Northwest School of the Arts but never had a lead role in a production until now.

Both Pettiford and Little praised his talent and said that situations like his are why Porch Productions exist.

“We like to find the hidden talent that Charlotte has had for years and just didn’t know about,” said Little.

Another actor, Lance Hamwright, is gaining an opportunity -- actually two -- through this weekend’s production.

Hamwright, who is minister of music at Temple International Ministries in Charlotte, where Little also attends, was brought in to provide vocal lessons to the actors. In doing so, he fell into a void and will play the cowardly lion -- the 23 year old has not acted since high school.
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Lance Hamwright, seated, who plays the cowardy lion, gets make-up advice from Tracy Riggs, a local hairstylist and beauty consultant. (Photo: Glenn Burkins for Qcitymetro.com)
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Hamwright said working on a production with so many children had its difficulties.

“The attention span of children is a hard thing to work with,” he said. “But the people who are in charge are acclimated to work with children. It took a lot of hands-on attention… to make sure every child was prepared for what they do.”

But when given responsibility, Hamwright said, children always meet the challenge.

“The more responsibility we gave them, the more they tried,” he said. “The more lines we gave them, the more they tried.”

As producer, Pettiford finances all of the company’s productions out of pocket, which amounts to nearly maxed-out credit cards, she said.

Profits from the plays generally go to three places: Tomorrow’s Road, a nonprofit that Pettiford said funds leadership initiatives for black youth; small-scale book stipends for graduating seniors who participate in the productions, and funding the next play.

IF YOU WANT TO GO:
Dates/Times: Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m.; Sunday at 4 p.m.
Place: Hopewell High School auditorium (11530 Beatties Ford Road, Huntersville)
Cost: $15 for adults; $10 dollars for children 12 and younger and for seniors 65 and older.

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