Laurel High Drama Club presents its first show in seven years

The Laurel High Drama Club performed The Wizard of Oz in shows last Friday through Sunday in the Jason Rogers Concert Hall/Auditorium. It was the school’s first performance in seven years.

Shown (l to r) during last Friday’s performance of The Wizard of Oz at Laurel High School are: Antoine Ross (Scarecrow), Rachel “Anna” Singh (Tin Man), Layla Cardone-Gainer (Dorothy), and Ritchie Rubino (Lion). Photo by Mike McClure

Layla Cardone-Gainer (Dorothy Gale), Ritchie Rubino (Zeke/Lion), Antoine Ross (Hunk/Scarecrow), and Rachel “Anna” Singh (Hickory/Tinman), the actors who played the “big four” in The Wizard of Oz, spoke to the Star following Friday’s performance.

“I was nervous at first, and I just hit the stage and went with it,” said Cardone-Gainer. “It was stressful (preparing for the shows), but I feel like I made new friends.”

She has acted in pageants, but she has never performed in a show.

“At first, I came with no experience. I didn’t know if I could or couldn’t sing,” Singh said.

Before reading the script, she had never watched The Wizard of Oz. Two weeks ago she watched the movie with her family.

Armani Nichols, who played Ms. Gulch and the Wicked Witch, is recognized following last week’s show at Laurel High School. Photo by Mike McClure

“I felt I had more freedom to my character. I could start from the ground up,” said Singh.

Rubino had never acted before, while Ross did some acting in elementary school.

“There were a lot of ups and downs, but they were mostly ups,” Ross said of the experience. 

Rubino called it stressful and fun. All four students said they would like to act again if given the chance.

Other students in key roles are: Aunt Em/Glinda- Vayda Gaskill, Uncle Henry/Oz Guard- Zayden West, Ms. Gulch/Wicked Witch- Armani Nichols, and Wizard of Oz- Jeremiah Vasquez.