Four actors perform on stage during a production of The Wizard of Oz. Dorothy, wearing a light blue dress and braided hair, stands beside the Tin Man holding a red heart, the Cowardly Lion in a fur-trimmed costume, and the Scarecrow in a patched outfit and hat. Blue stage lighting illuminates the scene.

The Wizard of Oz Is Fastest-Selling Show in ECC Theatre’s 55-Year History

February 25, 2026 | Campus News Performing Arts Theatre

It wasn’t just Dorothy, Toto and the rest of their crew who were excited to see The Wizard of Oz at the John Edson Anglin Performing Arts Center.

Selling out in just weeks, The Wizard of Oz became the fastest-selling show in ECC Theatre history. More than 2,500 audience members attended the four-day run.

An actress portraying Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz sits in a green chair on stage, singing with her arms extended. She wears a light blue dress, white socks, and red glittering shoes. Ensemble performers dressed in green costumes stand around her, and a small black dog representing Toto sits near her feet.
Dorothy performs alongside members of the ensemble during ECC Theatre’s production of The Wizard of Oz at the John Edson Anglin Performing Arts Center. Surrounded by Emerald City performers, she sings while seated in a green chair, her ruby slippers shining under the stage lights.

Performed Feb. 19–22, the production drew audiences from across the region. The run included a special Patrons of the Arts Sneak Peek on Feb. 18 and an elementary student matinee on Feb. 20, welcoming 483 young students to campus.

“We celebrated our 55th season by bringing the most famous musical of all time to our stage,” said Director Grace Austin. “We are so grateful for every audience member who followed us down the yellow brick road.”

The record-setting run was the result of thousands of hours of preparation and collaboration across campus. Students, faculty, staff and community partners all played a role, from student-athletes serving as ushers to departments opening their spaces for rehearsals and performances.

ECC Theatre continues to build each production from the ground up on campus, providing students with hands-on experience in performance, design, technical theatre and arts leadership.

A full cast and production crew list is available at eastcentral.edu.

Steel Magnolias

ECC Theatre’s next production will be Steel Magnolias, with performances scheduled for April 17, 18 and 19. Auditions will be held March 9 and 10. More information about upcoming productions is available at www.ecctheatre.com.

Creative and Technical Team

Cast
Dorothy Gale — Fiona Martin
Hunk/Scarecrow — Aiden Ashe
Hickory/Tin Woodsman — CJ Satterfield
Zeke/Cowardly Lion — Bobby Covington
Aunt Em — Patty Kellmann
Uncle Henry — Mike Peoples
Glinda the Good Witch — Elin Schmidt
Miss Almira Gulch/Wicked Witch of the West — Adrienne Gonzalez
Professor Chester Marvel/Wizard of Oz — Jeff Satterfield
Toto — Dora Bell
The Little Girl — Alana De Paula Rocha
The Guard/Principal Company — Sebastian Montowine
Munchkin Coroner/Company — Adison Pratt
Munchkin Mayor/Principal Company — Samuel Nicks
Winkie General/Company — Caleb Cancienne
Nikko — Leonidas Edwards Kohen Wideman
Apple Tree/Principal Company — Charissa Clark
Apple Tree/Principal Company — Jules Knight
Apple Tree/Principal Company — Lois Hulsebus
Crow/Principal Company/Tinman Standby — Leonidas Edwards
Crow/Principal Company — Cayden Ratcliff
Crow/Principal Company/Lion Standby — Johny Cojocaru
The Lullaby League — Ellie Brune Marley Strasser
The Lollipop Guild — Mary Kappauff Audrey Gierer
Principal Company — Andrew Utz
Principal Company — Grace Sellers
Principal Company — Gwyneth Little
Principal Company/Scarecrow Standby — Kohen Wideman
Principal Company/Dorothy Standby — Maleah Gerdes
Principal Company — Natalie Peoples
Principal Company — Sara Schaible
Principal Company/Dance Captain — Tara Steffens
Company — Chloe Strickland
Company — Clara Kutrip
Company — Leila Jerray
Company — Gianna Martin
Company — Mia Ezell
Company — Allana Short
Company — Braeden Hartmann
Company — Breanne Brewster
Company — Charley Mcleroy
Company — Madison Pennington
Company — Michelle Frederickson
Company — Milly Ridenhour
Company — Morgan Ganey
Company — Nathan Scheer
Company — Reed Lober
Company — Sally Brock
Company — Sarah Scharfenberg
Company — Shania Wilson
Munchkins — Adaline Derfield
Munchkins — Chloe Strickland
Munchkins — L.B Palmer
Munchkins — Emily Maune
Munchkins — Etta Knight
Munchkins — Haven Rojas
Munchkins — Kylee Stoyer
Munchkins — Mary Kappauff
Munchkins — Max Jarosz
Munchkins — Milla Vedder
Munchkins — Sawyer Keeven
Munchkins — Sylvia Unerstall
Munchkins — Tess Kappauff
Munchkins — Wynn Nothum

Production / Creative Team
Director — Grace Austin
Music Director — Matthew Kauzlarich
Choreographer — Christopher Page-Sanders
Scenic Designer/Technical Director — Mike Pecka
Lighting Designer — Morgan Brennan
Costume Designer — Carly Uding
Puppet Designer — Skyler Hunt
Specialty Prop Design — Ron Karl
Art Design/Charge Artistry — Sylvia Sellers
Projection Designer — Taylor Grunloeh
Sound Designer/Board Mixing — Phillip Evans
Assistant Choreographer — Jordan Woods
Munchkin Vocal Director — Ashley Smith
Munchkin Supervisor — Andy Wanager
Photographer — Liberty Edwards
Production Crew

Production Stage Manager — Tess Speizio
Stage Manager/Deck Crew — Jillian Stigge
Stage Manager/Deck Crew — Marylynn Haribson
Stage Manager/Deck Crew — Serenity Enloe
Stage Manager/Deck Crew — Tori Barnhart
Stage Manager/Deck Crew/Fly Rail — Robbie Elkin
Stage Manager/Deck Crew/Fly Rail — Adrian Smith
Spot Op — Ron Karl
Spot Op — Kar Meyer
Light Board Operator — Devin Smith
Sound Cue Board Operator — Mickael Brazeal
Projection Operator — Belle Triplett
Painting Assistance — Emma Whetton
Bootcamp Captain — Kylie Martin