On Friday, the cast of 29 Sacramento State students performed “The Wiz,” a moderntake on “The Wizard of Oz” to a cheering, packedUniversity Theatre.

The cast, production crew and choreographers have been working on the musical since their first rehearsal on Feb. 20. Some peoplehave beenworking on the showsince last summer.

Melinda Wilson, Sac State’s dance and theater professor, directed the performance. She also coordinated with the assistant choreographers and directors, costume designers, scenic and puppet designers, stage crew, musicians and a graffiti street artist.

“I hope “The Wiz’ teaches students at Sac State and the community and youth of all ages, to always believe in themselves” Wilson said. “To use their brains, listen to their hearts and have the courage in whatever they want to do.”

The modern twist from the 1978 version included a texting Dorothy who is living with her aunt and uncle in California. Dorothy is swept away in a tornado of gray costumed dancers who were spinning and nailing high, toe-touching jumps. Dorothy then finds herself lost in the Land of Oz.

Ashli Fisher, sophomore English and theater major, played the part of Dorothy and said working on the musical has been worth the hard work.

“It has been amazing and challenging … physically, mentally, spiritually,” Fisher said. “But it has been a joy being in it.”

Fisher said Sac State students have wanted to do this show for a long time before Wilson came to Sac State in 2005.

“Part of the motivation was when Michael Jackson died last year. We thought maybe it is time to do “The Wiz,'” Wilson said. “I knew I had amazingly talented students. I knew I could do the version of “The Wiz’ using our talents and what we have now.”

In “The Wiz,” Dorothy is coming of age and finding who she is.

“Dorothy is a girl who is trying to identify with herself and her abilities,” Fisher said. “She’s on a journey on how to grow up and treat her family, how to receive and give love.”

Dorothy’s journey down the yellow brick road was full of witches, munchkins, poppies, field mice, Emerald City citizens, winged monkeys and more. The road itself was a group of actors and actresses in yellow raincoats and black boots, leading Dorothy and her crew to the Emerald City.

Technology played a role in the performance from Addaperle, the Good Witch of the North, who tells Dorothy she can guess her name with her “magic slate,” which was actually an iPad.

The musical also used video during the performance.

Sac State actors and actresses enthusiastically danced down the aisle to the high tempo in “Soon as I Get Home.” Toward the middle of the show, audience members were asked to dance and join the characters in the aisles. This created a fun, engaging environment with the cast.

“The cast did whatever they had to do to make it work and dedicated themselves in ways that I haven’t seen a cast come together,” Wilson said.

Senior theater major Krystle Jong played Glinda, the Good Witch of the South, and said the long rehearsals were tiring and at times she just wanted to plop on her bed. Even though she often grew exhausted, the cast were amazing people and a creative team to work with.

“It’s been long and overwhelming, but artistically satisfying,” she said. “The cast was inspirational people to work with. It is overwhelming in a good way.”

Each show will feature special guest performers including Sac State President Alexander Gonzalez.

“I was honored to be invited to appear in “The Wiz’ by professor Melinda Wilson and I am looking forward to sharing the stage with so many talented students,” Gonzalez said. “The guest appearances that will take place throughout the run of “The Wiz’ are a terrific opportunity to bring the larger community closer to the fine performances we offer at Sacramento State.”

Katie Poleshuk, senior dance major, said the performance created the scenery of the original “Wiz” with veryfew props.

“I am very impressed with the talent in the department of theater and how they created a new world with minimal props and set &- which is up to the actors to create it,” Poleshuk said.

Theater department chair Linda Goodrich choreographed the performance along with six assistant choreographers.

Each set of characters on the stage had its own style of dancing: the krumping winged monkeys, theWiz solo performance imitating Elvis Presley and the Scarecrow moon walking like Michael Jackson.

The character Wiz was the person who could get Dorothy home, give the Scarecrow brains, the Tin man a heart and the Lion courage. He was a puppet the height of the stage.

The characters were constructed to be relatable to youth and illustrate what is important in life.

“We have all created our own world of Oz, whether it’s on Facebook or Twittering,” Wilson said. “Along the way, we lost sight of what it is and what we should be true and faithful to. We get lost and “The Wiz’ helps us to find our way back home.”

Mallory Fitescan be reached at [email protected]