What is it about the American Midwest that inspires great musicals? This week's high school performances help answer that question, while adding a modern twist(er) to two classic shows.

Belle Vernon producer Michael Rozell confessed that, at first, the choice of Rodger and Hammerstein's "Oklahoma!" didn't wow his students. "It went over like a lead balloon," he said, but added that once they learned the ground-breaking 1943 show is considered the first modern musical, they began to change their tune.

		PG East preview "'Oklahoma'" Where: Belle Vernon Area High School, 425 Crest Ave., Belle Vernon. When: 7:30 p.m. today, tomorrow and Saturday; 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $5 to $10 at the door. "The Wizard of Oz" Where: Tenth Street Auditorium, 901 Tenth St., Oakmont. When: 7:30 p.m. tomorrow and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday; 7:30 p.m. March 16 and 17. Tickets: $10 for adults; $8 for students/seniors. Call 412-828-1800, ext. 1038.

Set in 1906 Oklahoma territory, the musical pits cowboy Curly McLain (Nathan Costella) against bad guy cattleman Jud Fry (Ken Williams) for the hand of farmer girl Laurey Williams (played by Halynn Ringstad), while another couple -- Ado Annie, played by Alexis Ferrante, and Will, portrayed by Ian Cicco -- overcomes their own obstacles. Well-known songs include "People Will Say We're in Love" and "Surrey With the Fringe on Top."

Mr. Rozell noted that Ms. Ringstad also performs "Dream Laurey" in a ballet sequence. The two Laurey roles usually are portrayed by different actresses because of their difficulty. He also pointed out that this is his sixth musical with Mr. Costella, a senior, since he and staging director Debi Anderson often use Belle Vernon elementary and middle school children in productions. There are 12 such children in this show.

Mr. Rozell said that while musicals often fall prey to simplistic characterization and staging, their production of "Oklahoma!" has strived for realism, and that "the kids have really developed their acting skills" in order to flesh out the characters.

The set features a real cornfield, and Curly sings "O What a Beautiful Mornin' " while leading an actual horse.

Despite its initial reception, said Mr. Rozell, "the students have grown to love this musical."

Riverview's "Wizard"

"We wanted something big," explained Riverview producer Chris Fox about how he and co-directors J.P. Bertucci and Michele Bartos chose the Royal Shakespeare Company's version of "The Wizard of Oz." "It's to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the merger of Verona and Oakmont school districts. But we knew we couldn't do 'Oz' unless we could fly."

So fly they do. And although Mr. Fox admitted the students think the flying is the best part of the show, it isn't easy. Getting off the ground required the services of national theatrical effects company ZFX, extra insurance and plenty of signed release forms.

The Royal Shakespeare version of "Oz" hews closely to the popular 1939 film, so the effects don't stop at going airborne. Although the production has minimalist sets, Mr. Fox promises blacklights and lots of colorful costumes, as well as a musical number left out of the film: the "Jitterbug" song, set in the Haunted Forest.

The production also employs 10 elementary pupils as residents of Munchkinland.

Dorothy is played by Haley Koontz-Donahue, the Cowardly Lion by Michael Clayton and the Tin Woodsman by Joey Killian.

Mr. Fox singled out the performance of Jared Nigro, the Scarecrow, as one to watch for and said Kiersten Ferno's portrayal of the Wicked Witch was influenced by Broadway's "Wicked," an alternate version of the "Oz" story.

In such a tech-heavy show, Mr. Fox said the cast came to understand that "those unseen people dressed in black are as important as those onstage."