If an escape from the everyday pressure of real life is what you’re looking for, then a journey to the Emerald City may be just the ticket you need. Just follow the yellow brick road to the Northshore Performing Arts Center, where you’ll find this year’s Bothell High spring musical production, “The Wiz.”

“The Wiz,” an energetic and soulful musical interpretation of the novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum, and made famous by the 1978 film of the same name starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson, is the high school’s final theatrical production of the year.

The musical runs two weekends beginning with 7:30 p.m. performances May 13 and 14. The following weekend offers 7:30 p.m. performances May 19, 20 and 21, plus an American Sign Language-interpreted matinee at 2 p.m. May 21.

For Bothell High Theatre Arts instructor and director James Wilson, this year’s musical is unique. “It is the most ambitious production our program and students have ever done,” he said.

Several elements are new to the production this year. First, professional musical-theater choreographer Richard Jessup was hired to work with the cast. Jessup has choreographed and/or directed more than 75 productions, but the Bothell High production was a first.

“I had never had the opportunity before to choreograph this show, so that was a very positive experience,” he said. His challenge was to teach the choreography in just two weeks to the cast. His hard work paid off, earning the cast rave reviews at the Washington State Thespian Conference in March. Said Wilson, “He’s the best choreographer we’ve ever had for a BHS production.”

Then, there’s the set. Set designer Pat McCue, a Bothell High automotive technology instructor by day, was inspired by the sets and lighting for the 5th Avenue Theatre’s “A Christmas Story” this past winter when the Bothell High technical-theater club was invited to participate in a behind-the-scenes tour of how their sets were built. From what he learned on that tour, this production is using lighting design in conjunction with set design to create the different scenes in a way that’s never before been done at Bothell High.

The final piece that made this production so ambitious was the costume design by Peggy Moloney, and hair and makeup design by Lori Haydon. “The Wiz” story takes place in different lands, each requiring a completely different color scheme. Because it is set in the fantasy Land of Oz, the costumes needed to have a fantasy element to them, too. Volunteers have worked since February creating more than 50 masks and 220 costumes. For the first time ever, most of the cast will have the extra challenge of not only going through several costume changes, but will also deal with complicated hair and makeup design throughout the show.

Students Kara Bartlow, Austin Ascanio and Lauren Michael are part of the 34-member cast. It is the last Bothell High production for seniors Ascanio and Michael, who are starring as the Cowardly Lion and the Wicked Witch Evillene, respectively.

Bartlow, a junior, stars in her first major role as the Scarecrow, along with the extra duty as a dance captain for the cast. “Having a major role is so much different than ensemble work, which has been my forte in the past,” Bartlow explains.

“What I actually like about the Cowardly Lion is that we are pretty similar. Not to toot my own horn, but I’m a fairly intimidating guy to meet. But I’m really nice!” says Ascanio, who at 6-foot-6 can be a challenge to costume. He plans to attend Shoreline Community College in the fall and explore theater and film.

“The Wiz is an amazing show,” says Michael. “It’s not just a story about a girl in a foreign country; it’s a story of true friendship and empowerment. In technical terms, it’s of great quality. We have a spectacular professional choreographer who really brought life to the musical numbers with his expertise and creativity. We’re taking a risk with a show as unique as ‘The Wiz,’ and I think the audience will find that we’re fully capable of it,” she added. Michael is headed to Boston University this fall where she hopes to participate in theater productions while pursuing a degree.

Tickets for reserved seating — which are $15 for adults; $10 for children, students with ASB, seniors and military with ID — are available online at www.bothelldrama.org. General admission seating will be available at the box office in the lobby one hour prior to each performance.

The Northshore Performing Arts Center is located on the Bothell High campus, 18125 92nd Ave. N.E.