GALLERY: Wizard of Oz Takes the Stage at St. Michael-Albertville High School

The St. Michael-Albertville High School performing arts center was filled with crowds of young and old Thursday through Sunday during the school's Wizard of Oz musical.

The colorful performance included both high school and elementary school students cast to various roles — from munchkins to flying monkeys.

Numerous special effects were portrayed, including fireballs, a melting witch, talking trees, and a floating wizard's head.

Director Ashley Budde, who grew up in St. Michael-Albertville and is an alumni of the STMA theater department, wrote in the program's director's note that choosing Wizard of Oz was a "no-brainer."

"The Wizard of Oz has always held a special place in my heart," she wrote. "In my youth, I was enchanted by Judy Garland's portrayal of the sweet and naive Dorothy and her amazing adventure through a magical land filled with witches, yellow brick roads, and emerald green cities.

"I could often be found standing out on my parent's lawn, in my very own pari of ruby slippers, conversing with the trees and skipping with an imaginary Scarecrow.

"For me, The Wizard of Oz was more than just a movie, it was the inspiration behind what would someday become my field of study and work — theater arts. For millions of others, the journey through Oz is a heartfelt story that speaks universal truths about friendship, family, and a place unlike any other...home."

For more news from the St. Michael-Albertville area, sign up for our email newsletter, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter. Join our site to upload your own photos, submit your comments or write a blog.