Clay and The Yellow Brick Road

Fifteen-year-old Clay Hennessee enjoys Wii, driving with his learner's permit and hanging out with Freedom High School classmates.
What sets him apart? A love of singing, acting, piano and an obsession for "The Wizard of Oz." He secured a ticket months ago for the L. Frank Baum classic coming March 22 to CoMMA, now sold out. At home, his bedroom is packed with figurines, posters and music boxes featuring Dorothy and Oz characters. This creative young man crafted his own Emerald City from cardboard paper towel tubes topped with plastic egg halves, all drenched in green paint and glitter. A few weeks ago he and his brothers, Alex and Miquel, helped him make a snow Wicked Witch, spray painted with green food coloring.
His interest extends to all things Oz. After seeing the musical "Wicked" in New York City in November 2007, he and his mom and godmother walked outside the Gershwin Theater to meet the performers. He said, "We stayed at the stage door for two hours in the freezing cold. It started to snow." Clay wore only slacks, a button-down dress shirt and a blazer, no overcoat.
His mom, Gail Hennessee, gave up and went to save them a seat at McDonald's in Times Square. Clay's godmother, Donna Coffee of Morganton, waited with him. The actors from this hit show based on Gregory Maguire's book about the Wicked Witch finally appeared and signed their programs. Clay said he recognized Stephanie J. Block (Elphaba) right away even without her green face. Clay said, "Anna Leigh Ashford's (Glinda's) personality was bubbly even in casual conversation." He thought they did a "splendiferous job," and told me, "That's an Ozzian word I kind of made up."
This young musician played a piano rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from memory, and treated me to a waltz version he'd composed himself of "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead." Impressive for a fellow who has applied himself to piano for only a year.
Clay's piano teacher, Marny Tabor, said about him, "He's amazing. A sweethearted kid, very naturally talented. Have you heard him sing? Oh. . . my . . . gosh!" Tabor told me about Clay's recent role with the Old Colony Players in their performance of "Sound of Music" at the Old Rock School in Valdese. "He played Friedrich, the oldest boy, and he hit that high G every single time; he nailed it! When he sang, 'Goodbyyyyye' the whole audience would just gasp." She added, "And his chorus teacher at Freedom has him singing baritone; that shows his range."
On his birthday in 2009, Clay's mom and Donna Coffee along with his other godmother, Pam Carlisle, dressed as the Wicked Witch, Dorothy and Glinda and surprised him with a trip to The Land of Oz at Emerald Mountain in Beech Mountain. The partially restored site offers private rentals loaded with Oz memorabilia and activities, including a night at Dorothy's cottage. Emerald Mountain's Oz will be open to the public on Oct. 2 and 3 2010, for "Autumn in Oz."
At the Autumn in Oz weekend in 2006, Clay met Donna Stewart Hardaway, an actress who played a Munchkin in the 1939 movie with Judy Garland. He's thrilled with his signed portrait of her and the Munchkin cast.
Clay's drive and ambition show through his polite and gentle manner when he tells me he and a friend want to make a movie of the novel "Wicked." As a nod to the author, he admits, "We've got to get Gregory Maguire's permission first, though." Clay enjoyed all three of Maguire's Oz novels.
Clay's parents are Tom and Gail Hennessee, owners of Specialty Stone on Carbon City Road in Morganton. Their support has offered Clay a jump start on his goals of acting and singing, which the talented young man hopes one day will develop into a career of directing and producing.
His next performance is at his church, Burkemont Baptist, in their Easter musical performed March 26, 27 and 28. For free tickets call 437-2357.