Follow the yellow brick road

MARYSVILLE — Lines are memorized and the after-school practices and dress rehearsals are over.

Students portraying Dorothy, Scarecrow, the Wicked Witch of the West and other characters in “The Wizard of Oz” are feeling ready to perform the third annual school play at 7 p.m. today at Shoulte

s Elementary School.

“I was nervous about forgetting my lines, but now I’m not worried about anything,” said Drew McFarland, 10.

The fourth-grader tried out for the part of the Wizard during auditions held in late January. This is his first time performing in a school play, he said, and he has had fun rehearsing his role.

“I like the fact you get to use a big voice because our teachers are always telling us be quiet and don’t yell in the classrooms,” Drew said.

Shoultes librarian Nancy Hammer had an idea to direct a school play after noticing how students at Shoultes Elementary School loved reading from scripts in the library. She started looking for a play adapted for elementary students in 2008 and directed “Beauty and the Beast” in March 2009. The following year, students performed “Peter Pan.”

“It’s so amazing to see them transform the written word,” said Hammer, who also designs the sets.

This year’s production is from an adaptation by Kathryn Schultz Miller and includes a cast of 38 third- through fifth-graders and the Shoultes Choir. The script, written especially for a large group of elementary students, divides up the play’s major roles. The Shoultes Elementary production includes six girls in the role of Dorothy and four scarecrows.

Fifth-grader Shawna Martin portrays the part of the Wicked Witch. It’s a little hard for the 10-year-old to get into the character but she found a way to manage, she said.

“I kind of imagine it’s my sister,” Shawna said. “The lines just come when you’re on stage.”

Peyton Schmidt, 8, said she auditioned for the play because she likes being in front of people. She plays the role of Toto, Dorothy’s dog.

“I go in the audience and sniff someone because I’m hungry,” Peyton said.

The cast also held a day performance for other Shoultes Elementary students and teachers on Thursday.

Amy Daybert: 425-339-3491; adaybert@heraldnet.com.