Want to see a witch hunt?

Watch her prowl at Washington High School.

The school’s players will offer “The Wizard of Oz” at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the WHS Performing Arts Center.

Erin Stowe plays Dorothy.

“I’ve got some really big shoes to fill,” said Stowe, a junior.

Make that two red, sparkly shoes.

But Stowe’s not evoking Judy Garland.

“She’s definitely inspired me, but I’m not trying to copy her,” she said.

Thomas Sutton takes on the role of the Scarecrow, but has no apparent interest in being a Ray Bolger clone.

“I want to get it close to the movie, but I think everyone just needs to have a little bit of individuality to it,” the senior said.

Then there’s Colin Daw, the Tin Man č but don’t call him Jack Haley.

“It’s eye-opening,” the senior remarked of the play. “It’s not easy, but then again it’s not hard.”

And there’s sophomore Grey Peedin, who isn’t cloaking himself in Bert Lahr’s mystique but does a dead-on imitation of him.

“There is a lot of stuff that is very similar to the movie,” the Cowardly Lion said, adding there are a few different twists.

Perhaps the biggest twist is that each actor in the show has his or her own style, and wants the audience to see that.

Courtney Jennette, the Wicked Witch of the West, menaces Toto and the rebellious foursome through much of the production.

This senior said the cast is taking time away from other extracurricular activities to learn lines, blocking č stage movement č and “get more in tune with your character.”

“And I’m very excited about it,” she said.

Senior Allie Evans has multiple roles, from Auntie Em to one of the Munchkins.

“Memorizing the bit parts is easy,” she commented. “It took me a longer time to memorize my Auntie Em lines.”

And the hardest thing about her Kansas-to-Oz-to-Kansas journey?

Several costume and makeup changes.

Undaunted, Evans forges ahead, and shares a little advice for folks who might be on the fence about buying tickets: “It’s a cheap date and it’s a really good children’s play.”

For more information, call WHS at 252-946-0858.

‘Follow the yellow brick road’

Washington High School presents

“The Wizard of Oz”

7 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Washington High School Performing Arts Center

Advance tickets č $6 per person