St. Matthew's Parish School will perform its annual spring musical on its Pacific Palisades campus for the first time since last January's Palisades fire, with students presenting "The Wizard of Oz" later this month.
The production's message of "There's No Place Like Home" serves as a tribute to resilience and renewal as the school prepares for its full return to the Pacific Palisades campus in fall 2026.
"Our middle school performers are stepping confidently into the final weeks of rehearsal and we could not be more proud of their dedication, growth, and teamwork," said Jean Gaskill, St. Matthew's Middle School Drama & Performing Arts Teacher.
The spring musical is a school tradition where students from multiple grade levels collaborate on a shared artistic experience. Every middle school student has the opportunity to participate, with eighth graders taking leadership roles on stage and behind the scenes while fifth through seventh graders contribute through ensemble performances.
"The 8th grade leads have truly risen to the occasion, fully embodying their characters with heart, focus, and maturity," Gaskill said.
One eighth grade student shared their excitement: "There's nothing like looking out into the audience and seeing your whole community there and doing it at our home campus feels like we're bringing it back to life with something beautiful."
Performances will take place at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 25, and Thursday, March 26, in the school's Sprague Gymnasium at 1031 Bienveneda Avenue in Pacific Palisades. Admission is free and open to the public.
For more information, visit www.stmatthewsschool.com.
Edited by SMDP Staff