To perform The Wizard of Oz musical, there has to be a Toto.
“At the beginning of our process, we knew we had to have Toto, because he’s an integral part to the Wizard of Oz, and we thought we wanted to go with a puppet, but with the time that was allowed, we knew that the puppet wasn’t going to work out because we didn’t have enough practice time with the puppet, and so we had to come up with a plan B,” says Musical Director Mrs. McLean.
That Plan B was Jamie Pcionek and her dog Ziggy, a two-year-old Cavapoo, who is very well trained and fits the role of Toto perfectly.
“My sister, Jessica Pcionek is the Choreographer, so she is very involved in the process from the beginning when they pick the show, when they cast the show, everything. She’s been keeping me informed and I knew the show was the Wizard of Oz, so I’m like this is the perfect opportunity, my sister knew he would be a good fit for it,” says Jamie.
Ziggy and Jamie have been coming to musical practice since mid February.
Aubrey Puccio, who plays Dorothy, wanted to get to know her new best friend and supporting actor well. So, Puccio spent several days over the February break getting to know Ziggy one on one.
“The craziest thing acting with him is I have to act like he’s doing it, but I’m the one doing it. He obviously helps out a lot, he just goes to wherever I need him to go, but I have to act like, wait, this dog is pulling me to where I just threw a treat on the ground,” says Puccio.
Jamie says it’s definitely teamwork she sees on stage.
“He likes being up there and the kids he’s met up there and he’s happy to sit with them and interact with them. He definitely comfortable up there.”
Jamie says Ziggy likes to sleep in the next day and take another nap in the afternoon before hopping in the car for the 20-minute drive to Le Roy Jr. Sr. H.S. the next evening. She says he gets a brushing before bed and that’s his only prep for the show practice the next day.
“He’s always excited coming into the school. He barks when he gets here because he wants to be in here with his people. His tail is wagging, and he really wants to get right in here and see everyone and get started.”
Ziggy is a people dog according to Jamie. He likes to travel and loves to walk in the Oatka Festival parade with is VIP K-9 friends, which is where he attended several obedience training classes as a puppy.
He interacts with several other actors throughout the show and has got to know a lot of the cast and crew before show practice begins each day at 5:45p.m.
“We’ve gotten pretty used to each other. He answers to me, and he is so well trained. he’s such a good dog I love performing with him,” says Puccio, who has two dogs of her own at home.
“He does really listen to me. My dogs at home don’t even listen to me as well as Ziggy does. If there is an Oscar for best dog it goes to Ziggy and there is nobody I’d rather have as a co-star. I love feeding him chicken. I feed him treats. Walk him around. He’s such a good dog.”
Ziggy and Puccio are best pals.
“We are a pair in this show,” says Puccio. “He’s my favorite cast member, don’t tell anyone.”
“He’s a well-trained enough dog that he’s able to follow the commands well. And we do have treats that are luring him through sometimes, like just for certain scenes, but overall, he just wants to be held. He loves the scenes where he gets to just sit on people’s laps. He’s just eating it up,” says Musical Director Mrs. McLean.
Jamie, who is a Speech Therapist, at Wolcott Street School, says that during the shows she will be backstage watching the livestream of the show. She says being in the crowd would cause Ziggy to be distracted and he would run off stage to be by her side.
“I get so nervous for him. I know he is capable, and I know he loves it and he’s having a lot of fun and I want the audience to be able to see that too. I always have my fingers crossed that he gives a good performance and is happy out there.”
(Provided photo)
And yes, Ziggy is part of the printed program.
“Oh yeah, he has his bio, and he has a head shot. He’s going to eat up this moment for sure. We have a lot of friends and family that are excited to see him. We sold some tickets on Ziggy’s behalf.”
Shows are March 6th, 7th and 8th at 7:00p.m.
To purchase tickets for the show, here is the link below.