Jordan Beck | Daily Press Autumn Fournier, in the role of “Glinda,” practices her part along with youth actors playing Munchkins during a rehearsal for Bay College’s production of “The Wizard of Oz” Wednesday.

ESCANABA — In less than a month, performances of Bay College’s production of “The Wizard of Oz” are set to begin. Director Jamie Peterson said efforts to prepare for the show have been going well.

“So far, the production has exceeded all of my hopes,” he said.

Tickets for “Oz” went on sale on Oct. 7.

“We have sold over 85 percent of all available tickets,” Peterson said.

As of Wednesday, less than 300 tickets to the show were left.

Performances of “Oz” have been scheduled for Nov. 1, 2, 6, 7, 8 and 9 at 7 p.m. Additionally, matinee performances are set for Nov. 2 at 1 p.m. and Nov. 3 at 2 p.m.

“We tried to make the production times as accessible as possible for … families with young children,” Peterson said, noting the 7 p.m. start time for evening performances and the scheduling of multiple matinee performances.

Sixty actors are involved with the show, including 36 youth actors between the ages of 8 and 17 and 24 adult actors.

“This is the largest show I’ve ever directed,” Peterson said.

Rehearsals for “Oz” began in early September. The show’s adult cast had its first rehearsal on the night of Sept. 2 — Labor Day — and the first rehearsal with youth actors took place on Sept. 5.

Gladstone sixth-grade student Abe Perryman, who plays the Munchkin coroner as well as flying monkey leader “Nikko,” said he has been enjoying these rehearsals.

“They’re usually fun, depending on what we’re doing,” he said.

Perryman said he has particularly liked singing and dancing in his Munchkin role.

As “Nikko,” Perryman will be involved with the show’s flying effects.

“I haven’t got to fly yet, but that’s going to be pretty soon,” he said.

Perryman encouraged his peers to get involved with community theater.

“More kids should join shows,” he said.

Autumn Fournier, who is playing “Glinda” and “Aunt Em,” said “Oz” is the largest show she has been a part of.

“This is the biggest production I believe the community has seen,” she said.

Fournier also said she has been enjoying her role in the show.

“Glinda’s very magical — she’s someone I’ve noticed the children have attached to both on and off stage as a guiding light,” she said.

Along with the cast of “Oz,” many people have gotten involved with the show behind the scenes.

“My role is to make sure that all the scenes … change smoothly,” Lou Reynolds, the show’s backstage manager, said.

Reynolds noted “Oz” has 20 to 30 scene changes.

As part of his work, Reynolds said he is planning to take photos of each scene featured in the show next week. These will be used by the show’s crew to ensure scenes are set up correctly going forward.

Reynolds has also been helping out with set construction, painting and costuming, among other things.

“One of my favorite things to do right now is to keep morale up,” he said.

Costumers for “Oz” have been hard at work this fall, as well. Peterson said everyone in the show has at least two costumes, and half the cast has three.

While many of these costumes are being lent to the production by Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, others will be custom-made.

“I’ve been making the dress for the Wicked Witch,” costumer Jane Karweick said.

Karweick said she began working on the dress in mid-September.

“To see it all coming together has been really rewarding,” she said.

A total of 13 musicians are in the pit orchestra for “Oz.”

“They’ve been working very hard, and it’s coming along well,” Travis DuBord, the show’s musical director, said.

He noted that, while the music for “Oz” is familiar, that does not mean it has been easy to perform.

“(It’s) actually more difficult than meets the eye,” DuBord said.

Fournier encouraged people who have not yet bought tickets to “Oz” to do so.

“It will be something that will be widely talked about in our community for a while — (it) shouldn’t be missed,” she said.

For more information about Bay’s production of “The Wizard of Oz,” visit baycollege.edu/oz.