Early next year, Itawamba County residents will be off to see the wizard ... after he's cast, of course.

The Itawamba Agricultural High School Indian Players is producing a version of the classic MGM musical "The Wizard of Oz" for February of next year. It's set to be a massive production, and quite possibly the group's most popular to date.

According to director Victoria Blake, "The Wizard of Oz" has long been one of her most requested musicals.

"There have been so many people asking me to do 'The Wizard of Oz' that I just couldn't refuse," she said. "This musical is just a classic. Everyone loves it."

The Indian Players will be holding auditions for the production on Saturday, Sept. 11, from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Fulton Grammar School auditorium. Grammar and junior high school students are asked to be there at 8 a.m. and high school at 10 a.m. Those who want to try out for the lead role will need to perform a song from the musical.

According to Blake, the production will also need experienced dancers and choral performers.

Blake said more than 50 high school students have already signed up for auditions, so competition will be fierce this year.

Most of the roles in the musical are character roles so all of them will be challenging to cast," she said. "We will need many actors who are not afraid to take on roles that are completely different from their personalities.

"Also many of the roles require singing, so finding the right people, who can sing and act will be a challenge," she added.

Last year, the group performed "Annie" to sold out crowds across a weekend's worth of performances. Although Blake continually promises each year's musical will be the last, she said the productions have proven so popular she just can't let go.

"There is so much enthusiasm in the program right now," she said. "I just don't want to lose that. It has taken so long to build the program to this point and now that we have I want to keep it going. 'Annie' received some great reviews and there are so many kids of all ages who want to be part of the arts."

Each production presents its own challenges. Most have huge casts, some have unique settings that require a lot of props and set-building, most require difficult choreography.

"The Wizard of Oz" will feature all of these, plus a live orchestra.

"I think this will be our biggest show yet," Blake said. "However, there are some big challenges ahead. It is important to me to stay true to the movie, yet we only have a stage to bring all the different memorable scenes together. Unlike the movie where they can build sets and take time filming, we have to put on a live, non-stop show, where we have to move from scene to scene quickly, giving the audience the magic they remember from the movie."

Blake said, in particular, building the sets will be one of the group's most difficult tasks.

"The set is going to be complex as we will need the farm, Oz, witches castle, Emerald City etc. Lots of props, colorful costumes," she said, adding that any community members with a talent for sewing or set construction are welcome to help, of course.

Adam Armour can be reached at 862-3141, by e-mailing adam.armour@itawamba360.com or by visiting his blog at itawamba360.com.