By Jessica Dillon
Scarlett Norman, 19, landed a leading role as Dorothy in the Community Theatre of Greensboro’s 30th annual “Wizard of Oz” production. Norman represented the Martinsville-Henry County area in the show and has been attending classes in North Carolina, where she is triple-majoring in marketing, communications and drama.
“I think they say approximately 10,000 people see it each year,” Norman said of the play. The show has run for 30 years and puts actors through weeks of rehearsals. “We’ve been practicing since the end of September, so it’s been about six to eight weeks of rehearsal.”
Norman has been in plays since she was six months old. “I played Baby Simba in ‘The Lion King’ when they do the Circle of Life. Ever since then I’ve been acting, but technically my first production was when I was four years old and Hillcrest Baptist Church had a program called God’s Kids. I was one of the actors in that.”
She said she has always wanted to star as Dorothy. “It has always been one of my favorite roles personally, one of my dream roles because I relate to Dorothy a lot. I feel she’s a very emotional, complex character. She feels on a deeper level, and she takes this really emotional journey throughout the whole story, and I really can relate to so many things.” She added that she enjoys the character’s attachment to home and how she cares for her friends.
Norman said transitioning into playing Dorothy was easy, and that she already had the right hair type. “Thankfully I was blessed with natural curls. Judy Garland also had curly hair when she played Dorothy, so pretty much all I have to do is braid my hair. I do it in like a little twist up near the top.”
The dress she wore in the play was handmade, and Norman created the red slippers herself. “I actually made them. I got plain tan character shoes, and spray painted them red. I got these red sequin strings from Hobby Lobby, and I glued those on there.” She also added bows and a large stone to the middle of each shoe.
The first performance of the production was held during the day for schoolchildren, and Norman said the young crowd met the cast’s energy. “They screamed at pretty much everything. They loved it. It was a very uplifting first show and it really gave us a good jump start into our journey down the Yellow Brick Road.”
Norman said the experience has strengthened her confidence and stage presence.
“I am so honored that I am able to play this role as Dorothy and it has been so fun and it’s a terrific show, and I would highly encourage anybody young or old that wants to get involved in theater to please get involved because it is really an incredible experience and it will change you for the better.”
