By: Matt Scher, matts@977thebolt.com
Humboldt, IA – There’s no place like home, and Humboldt High School students are preparing to bring a familiar story to life on their home stage with the upcoming fall musical, *The Wizard of Oz*.
Performances are scheduled for November 5, 6 and 7 at 7 p.m. each night. A Saturday matinee may also be added depending on the Humboldt volleyball team’s progress at the 2026 Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) State Volleyball Tournament at Xtream Arena in Coralville.
Seventh and eighth-grade band director Jared Knapp is directing the production for the first time after taking over the position this school year.
Knapp is no stranger to Humboldt’s musical theater program. As a student, he performed in the pit orchestra, primarily playing trombone. He estimates he has participated in more than 20 shows through high school, college and his professional career as a musician.
When an opening for the musical director position became available, Knapp decided to take on a new challenge.
“I know a lot of these kids. I was just going to go for it just because I like these kids,” Knapp said during an appearance on Wildcat News on KHBT-FM 97.7 The Bolt.
Knapp said keeping the experience positive for the students has been a major motivation throughout rehearsals. While directing can bring its share of frustrations, he praised the cast’s commitment and progress.
He also highlighted the work being done by students in the pit orchestra, noting that some of the musical parts are challenging even for experienced musicians.
Students take on iconic roles
Lucy Goodenow leads the cast as Dorothy. Although she has previous stage experience, including last year’s production of *White Christmas*, the lead role represents a significant step forward.
Goodenow previously participated in the singing and dancing ensemble and played a servant in the production. This time, she has more lines to learn and more choreography to master.
When asked about the most difficult part of the role, Goodknow pointed to knowing where to move and stand throughout the scenes.
She also performs alongside the other characters during several songs.
Mason McKimmey, a senior, plays the Scarecrow. His role comes with a quick costume change, as he first appears as Hunk before transforming into the Scarecrow and later changing back near the end of the show.
McKimmey said he has participated in every high school show during his high school career and encouraged students who are interested in theater to give it a try.
He suggested starting in the ensemble to become familiar with the process before pursuing larger roles in future productions.
“If you enjoy it and you’re good at it, it’s just overall a really fun experience that you can have and you can move up to bigger things afterwards too,” McKimmey said.
Jacob Hunter portrays the Tin Man. Hunter said his solo is one of the most rewarding parts of the production because of the work he has put into preparing it.
He also praised the cast and the time students have devoted to rehearsals.
“It’s really fun to watch, you know, these kids that put a lot of effort into this. I mean, they’ve used about 2 to 3 months of their life putting effort into this,” Hunter said.
Knapp said audiences familiar with the movie should still come see the school’s production, describing the story as timeless while noting that the stage version has some differences.
He hopes to see strong community support for the students who have dedicated months to rehearsals.
“Make sure you come out and come see the show,” Knapp said. “We’d love to just sell out the auditorium.”
Performance information
- What: Humboldt High School’s *The Wizard of Oz*
- When: November 5, 6 and 7 at 7 p.m.
- Where: Humboldt High School
- Tickets: $10 for adults and $5 for students
- Possible schedule change: A Saturday matinee may be scheduled depending on Humboldt volleyball’s state tournament schedule.
Any changes to the performance schedule, including a possible Saturday matinee, will be announced as details are confirmed.