Canyon Laker to direct TCHS spring musical

Canyon Lake resident Tara Abell returns to Temescal Canyon High School to direct the spring musical The Wizard of Flaws, a comedy about an amateur production of a Wizard of Oz musical that goes hopelessly awry, creating theatrical mayhem. Photo provided by Tara Abell.

Canyon Lake resident Tara Abell is returning to Temescal Canyon High School to direct the spring musical The Wizard of Flaws, a comedy about an amateur production of a Wizard of Oz musical that goes hopelessly awry, creating theatrical mayhem.

Show dates are Mar. 15 through Mar. 17 and Mar. 22 through Mar. 24 at 7 p.m. at Temescal Canyon Jeanie Corral Performing Arts Centre. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for students. Tickets can be purchased by calling 951-253-7250.

The Temescal Canyon High School theater is like an old friend to Tara. She opened the theater as a student in 1999. After college in 2007, she returned to the school to teach drama and English. In 2012, she left to get married and moved to Beverly Hills. After having a baby, she moved back to Canyon Lake to be closer to her family and the Temescal High School staff.

“I haven’t felt like myself since I left and it seemed like something was missing. I am a true, blue Titan through and through,” said Tara. “It feels good to be back.”

All of the students that Tara had as TCHS Spotlight Players have graduated. She said she wants to give the new generation of TCHS Spotlight Players an opportunity to see her process as a director before jumping into a full-fledged production with her.

The fall production was a non-musical comedy murder mystery starring staff members. “All rehearsals were open to any student that wanted to see my style and procedures before auditioning for the spring musical,” said Tara.

Another musical was slated for the spring; however, after the students saw the staff members in the Mischief Theatre-inspired fall production, they wanted in on the fun.

Following the success of fall semester’s, You Can’t Spell Slaughter Without Laughter, the TCHS Spotlight Players are having a go at The Wizard of Oz.  The Wizard of Oz is familiar to Tara. It was the first play she performed in with the  Canyon Lake Community Theatre. She was cast as Dorothy.

Keeping with the same Mischief Theatre style, The Wizard of Flaws will have the same comic itinerary as the fall show: collapsing sets, misplaced props, mistimed cues, hopeless attempts to cover for mistakes that create a domino-effect of mishap, warring egos; ambition exceeding ability.

Join the students of TCHS as they attempt to stage a musical version of the classic Oz tale where, as the title suggests, everything that possibly could go wrong – does! The over the top cast struggle to keep the musical afloat, as the accident-prone actors get into mischief and even the set seems to plot against them.

The Wizard of Flaws maintains the same beloved Oz characters and follows their journey from Kansas to the Emerald City and back.

As props start to disappear, actors go missing and the set begins to malfunction, mayhem ensues; but the amateur TCHS Spotlight Players struggle on, against the odds. But will they ever make the final curtain? And at what cost?

Fans of classic farce will find much to love in this comedy complete with slapstick humor, slamming doors, and reluctant understudies. This show will appeal to anyone who has ever worked on stage or behind the scenes, giving a horrifying glimpse into the sheer number of hilarious mishaps that are prone to occur.

As a fast-paced musical comedy, this play suits all ages and is particularly recommended for people who love L. Frank Baum’s story. The relaxed atmosphere, fast comedy quick to poke fun at itself and the physical humor means it can be enjoyed by a wide range of different ages and tastes.




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