Libby Foster certainly is a Wiz of a Wiz if ever a Wiz there was. The 2008 WLTC Summer Drama Camp production of The Wizard of Oz last weekend was magical, to say the least. This year fifty-two participants enrolled in the program, learned about all aspects of the theater, worked hard, laughed a lot and then put on a fabulous show. Where does the magic come in? All of it was completed in just two weeks!

Libby was like the cyclone that swept through Kansas. She managed to teach and mediate and entertain and lead all fifty-two of those campers and then directed them to stardom. Libby was quick to point out that she had some very competent helpers. April Shelton was the Assistant Director and she was wise and wonderful and involved in every aspect of the camp. Zena Zahran was backstage performing all the miracles of set change, prop usage and making sure that everyone was always where they were suppose to be. Teresa Davis was the skilled costume designer that brought color to the stage and imaginative characters to life. Lighting was provided by Scott Lewis and Khalil Zahran, sound was produced by Angelynn Price, and hair and make-up were applied by Paula Stevens and Campers.

Dixie Lee Trimm as Dorothy was everything you could hope for; a talented singer, a poised actress and a beautiful stage presence. The Scarecrow (Jacob Davis) was friendly and floppy and easy to love, the Tin Man (Nick Fahrion) shined and touched all our hearts, the Lion (Zach Gebing) was courageously funny, and Toto (Clayton Foster) tickled our funny bone, ruff ruff. The Wizard (Will Price) was a good man and a good wizard, the Wicked Witch (Genevieve Coe) was so good the audience was green with envy, Glinda "The Good Witch" (Tabatha Welch) was too beautiful to be a witch, the Gatekeeper (Isabelle Jones) made us laugh and cry. General Chimp (Chase Shelton) effectively led his flying monkeys: Grant Kimbrell, Leslie Souther, Megan Thackston, Dalton Deal, Kathryn Overman, Flavius Zahran and Sadie Rabun.

The trees (Grace Inglett and Hayley Colvard) were shady characters, Auntie Em (Sabrina Dodgen) and Uncle Henry (William Ezzell) were lovably corny, the Munchkins (Jordy Wilkinson, Mary Clark, Jonathan Wood, Ruth Chafin,Kaylee Whisnant, Shannon Thackston, Flavius Zahran, Nicolette Wilkinson, Sara Shouse, Marisa Sifre, Marlyse Sifre, Katie Trimm and Courtney Thackston) took the audience to new heights, all the Emerald City Townspeople (Kathleen Storrin, Sadie Lee Birdwell, Yarelli Lopez, Camille Lewis, Hailey James, Christina Albertson and Abby Foster) were real gems, the poppies (Sadie Rabun, Ruth Chafin and Kaylee Whisnant) were adorable and the Narrators (Hailey James, Grace Inglett, Christina Albertson, Marlyse Sifre, Courtney Thackston, Leah Powers, Sadie Rabun, Emma Collins, Dalton Deal, Katherine Overman, Marisa Sifre, Yarelli Lopez, Hayley Colvard, Kaylee Whisnant, Catie Greer, Cecilia Elgio, Abby Foster, Shannon Thackston, Katie Trimm, Rachel Inglett, Amber Ellis, Megan Thackston, Kathleen Storrin, Amanda Wood, Camille Lewis, Flavius Zahran, Ruth Chafin,Anna Ezzell, Nicolette Wilkinson, Sara Shouse, Anne Schiffner, Sadie Lee Birdwell and Whitney Branham) kept us all going down the right road.

Congratulations to Libby Foster and April Shelton who expertly transported the audience to a land we only dream about; A land where dozens of children and young adults learn about the magic of theater and the importance of working together as a team. A land where adults generously give of themselves and their time to help a child. A land where hundreds of people living in a small community gather together to appreciate the enormous talent of their friends and neighbors. Yes, Dorothy, "there's no place like Washington."

(This unsolicited guest theater review expresses the opinions of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of this newspaper, its staff, or its management.)