There can only be one scarecrow. Will it be Russell Wagoner, Garrett Henson or Kevin Clay?
(Courtesy David Kaptein/courtesy Glenn Barnett/courtesy Charlie Gunn)More Photos
With a boyish grin, Kevin Clay signed up for an audition slot for Westfield High School's production of "The Wiz".
"I'm just hoping to get in. Being a freshmen and everything you know," he said. "There are 70 seniors, so there's competition."
Many of the 105 teenagers who are auditioning today have intensive acting and dance training. Some can sight read a musical score, a skill they acquired taking choral class and private music lessons.
Others, like Kevin, even have professional experience on stage.
Eager Scarecrows are sprawled all throughout the auditorium, practicing their moves. In the original "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," by L. Frank Baum, the two-day-old Scarecrow tells Dorothy that he is desperately seeking the brain he lacks.
Each teen knows the back story, and has an intricate philosophy about what motivates the charming, but ostensibly brainless character.
With his tawny hair and long, gangly legs, 16-year-old Russell Wagoner is the incarnation of the Ozian character.
"The Scarecrow is all about having naïve fun. He's a hard character to develop. There are two main dimensions," he said. "You have to realize that you have to be smart but you have to pretend you can't realize it. So I have to be clumsy and puppy dog still new on his feet, but there's actually meaning to what the character says."
And with that, Wagoner – who told ABC News that it's critical to always stay in character – staggered awkwardly away, practicing his best Scarecrow walk.
Nate Peterson, vice president of his class and Lion-wannabe, says he would never audition for the role.
"His song is really high so he's sort of effeminate," he said. "The scarecrow is the closest to girls in terms of sexuality. That's why he's so close to Dorothy. He's the metrosexual and, as such, is going to get along better with the girl."
That effeminate quality may be attracting some unlikely candidates. Two girls are interested auditioning for the role.
"It's a guy, but it's my favorite role," Kyla Waitt said. "I think because the Scarecrow is kind of like me. Like falls around and I like to fall on the ground."
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