ACTING students are off to see the wizard in memory of a classmate.

They are performing The Wiz at Lighthouse, Poole July 17 and 18 in memory of their classmate Kathryn Richmond.

Hailed as the Motown remake of The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz paints L. Frank Baum's beloved story of Dorothy Gale’s adventures in the fantasyland of Oz against the contemporary backdrop of New York City, though all is not as it seems.

While Sidney Lumet’s 1978 film production of The Wiz starred Michael Jackson and Diana Ross, this show will see the DSA’s pupils, aged between five and 20 years, bring their own energetic version of the musical to life in a blaze of impactful dance numbers and soulful tunes.

But though the songs may be jazzier and the costumes quirkier than Judy Garland may have allowed, the core message of this fun-filled, family-friendly show remains the same: with self-belief, anything is possible.

Producer and co-principal Laura Roxburgh said: “Our students are trained to professional West End standards of dancing and singing and many are already working in TV and film, so The Wiz promises to be a truly spectacular show, as well as a fantastic opportunity to see the potential stars of the future in action today.”

She added: “We enjoy working on all our shows, but this one has been particularly special because we all wanted to dedicate these performances to one of our former pupils, Kathryn Richmond, who passed away unexpectedly in April.

"Kathryn was such a lovely girl and her death was a huge shock for all of us at DSA, but she really enjoyed doing the shows herself and had great talent, so we are determined to make the performances a fitting tribute for her.”

Performances will take place at 7.30pm on July 17 and 18. Contact the venue for tickets.

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