This Teen & Her Service Dog Starred In Their School’s “Wizard of Oz” Play Together

The Dorothy and Toto duo are the perfect match!

There is a pretty awesome duo teaming up for the lead roles in a New Jersey high school production of “The Wizard of Oz” this spring musical season. Senior Erin Bischoff spent this week wowing audiences as Dorothy in the iconic play at Hasbrouck Heights High School — and her real-life service dog Gauge was at her side the entire time playing Toto!

The 17-year-old uses a wheelchair due to her osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic disorder which gives her brittle bones. Everyone in her school already knows and adores her lovable golden retreiver, so of course he was a natural for the stage role.

“The Wizard of Oz” marks Erin’s first lead role in a musical, though she’s been participating in school plays for years. It’s also the first time Gauge has a named part, so although he too has some serious stage experience, he had to learn the script along with the rest of the cast.

Erin’s mom Michelle Bischoff said audiences loved seeing the duo onstage together, and that they bring out the best in one another.

“It’s a place where these guys can totally rule the stage and be champions up there,” she told NJ.com. “They work real hard together and they mentor each other, they support each other. They pick each other up when they’re down.”

We hope this cast enjoyed their production week — because it seems like audiences had a great time!

Photo via Faith Armonaitis, TAPinto.net