April 17, 2025
from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school
There’s a special kind of magic that fills our school in the weeks leading up to the spring musical. Laughter rings through the Nicholson Center, lines are rehearsed in quiet corners, musicians fine-tune their performance, and sets begin to take shape. That energy is alive and well this year as we prepare for our reimagined production of “The Wizard of Oz“—a performance that reflects not just creativity, but the heart of an MPA education.
This year, 56 students from grades seven through 12 are involved in the production as cast members, crew, and orchestra musicians. And it’s not just our seasoned theatre students who are participating. Among them are athletes, musicians, first-time performers, and students who joined simply because a friend encouraged them or because they were curious. They come from different friend groups, different grades, and different backgrounds, but theatre brings them together in a way that is powerful and transformative.
As director James Lekatz shared, “The most powerful gift theater gives is the incredible strength to create community. These students aren’t in the same friend groups, but they are coming together for this production. The audience is made up of friends, family, and strangers, coming together for one night to support students doing incredible things. Theater brings people together to experience a brief moment together.”
Theater, at its best, is more than performance—it’s education in its most holistic form. It helps students become not only better artists, but better people. At MPA, theater is an essential aspect of our mission, reflected in our Portrait of a Graduate, and provides students with the opportunity to achieve mastery of our Future-Ready Competencies. Here’s how:
- Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: Stepping into a character’s life deepens students’ ability to understand others—an essential quality for compassionate global citizens.
- Communication and Confidence: From stage presence to public speaking, theatre equips students with the skills to express themselves with clarity and assurance.
- Collaboration and Community: Theater is teamwork. It teaches compromise, respect, and the shared joy of building something together.
- Creativity and Critical Thinking: Theatre challenges students to think on their feet, solve problems, and imagine new possibilities.
- Cultural and Historical Literacy: Plays connect students with global stories and the richness of human experience across time and place.
- Voice and Agency: Whether performing, directing, or creating original work, students learn that their voices matter and their stories can make an impact.
- Joy and Self-Discovery: Theater is fun. It’s also deeply personal. It allows students to explore who they are and who they might become.
That’s why at MPA, theater isn’t an “extra.” It’s essential.
And this year’s “Wizard of Oz” tells that story in a whole new way. Rather than compete with the spectacle of the iconic film, Mr. Lekatz and technical director Ms. Emily Jacques took a different path. In this modern reimagining, Dorothy is not whisked away by a tornado, but struck by debris—a symbolic turning point that launches her into a dream world shaped by the people in her real life. She’s not the sentimental girl from 1939, but a modern teenager navigating identity, uncertainty, and the longing to find her place in the world.
“The archetypes of the original characters have transformed into the archetypes of a traditional high school,” said Mr. Lekatz. “It’s where students spend so much of their lives. A classic story is called a classic because it can evolve with time—and ‘The Wizard of Oz’ is no different.”
What you’ll see on stage is the result of countless hours of collaboration, creativity, and care. But more than that, it’s a living example of an MPA whole-child education in action—educating hearts, minds, and spirits alike.
I hope you’ll join us on this journey down the Yellow Brick Road. I promise, it leads to something truly special.
Performances are Thursday, April 24 at 7 PM, Saturday, April 26 at 7 PM, and Sunday, April 27 at 2 PM. You may purchase tickets here. The show is for all ages!
