IN THE PIPELINE:

Heil Avenue, just east of Beach Boulevard, is not paved with yellow bricks.

Still, the music floating out of the auditorium at Westmont Elementary School one cool spring evening conjures up images of not just a golden road, but of green witches, knee-length, black-and-white striped socks and ruby red slippers.

Backed by a steady piano track, mostly Girl Scout voices belt out familiar classics from the Land of Oz along with some lesser-known pieces. In the middle of the couple of dozen young actors and actresses is the director, Chris Grisey — or, as she is simply known to friends and Girl Scouts cast members, “G.”

G is always happy to be directing yet another Girl Scout cast (which also includes a few token boys). After all, she has greasepaint in her blood, and the theater, outside of her family, is her greatest love.

But this year she is especially satisfied, and grateful, because just a year ago she wasn’t sure if she’d be here to do it again. In fact, there were serious questions as to whether she’d be here at all.

One night during rehearsals, G took a break and we talked for a bit at a picnic table just outside the rehearsal hall.

“Last summer I was diagnosed with Sepsis,” she explained calmly. “Which is a serious blood infection that strikes you out of nowhere. I had to be put into a coma; I received five blood transfusions. I had kidney dialysis — the doctors at Mission Hospital literally saved my life. After that, I had to learn to walk again, to live again. I was at the bottom the barrel.”

As touch and go as it was, she recovered. But what was the medicine she craved most? What would make her feel really better?

Putting on another show. And so here we are.

For more than 10 years, G has been directing and staging productions featuring Girl Scouts, and this special production of “The Wizard of Oz” was the perfect tonic.

G’s first time onstage was when she was 9, while growing up in Whittier. Through college, she stayed involved in the theater, both onstage and behind the scenes.

She got married here in Huntington Beach 34 years ago, had four children, and 25 years ago, when one of her kids was in Girl Scouts, she helped get a show together as a troop leader. That was the start of a wonderful relationship G has had with producing plays featuring Girl Scouts.

G started running the theater unit at Camp Scherman up in the mountains about 11 years ago, and in 2003 she started the All About Girls theater production company.

She not only casts Girl Scouts in the roles of each play, she recruits older Scouts to take on every position on a “Board of Directors,” from set design to publicity. This helps prepare the girls not just for more theater, but also for life.

“The girls are in charge of every facet of the production,” says G. “It’s become a development program to nourish their love of theater.” G, who for several years was on the board of directors at the Huntington Beach Playhouse, produces one of these shows a year.

This marks G’s 29th year as a Girl Scouts troop leader, and she clearly relishes her role. “I was a Pioneer Girl growing up, not a Girl Scout. But I love what the Scouts teach these young women — goodness, service, leadership. It’s wonderful.”

As is the show. Rather than fall back on the traditional film version of “The Wizard of Oz,” G found a script based on L. Frank Baum’s original story, which features additional characters and plot twists (our daughter is in the play, as the Wicked Witch, so we have had the benefit of watching many of these rehearsals, and the show is truly terrific).

Two moms helping out this year, Jessica Wyman and Gail Hoeker, whose kids have been in several of G’s shows in the past, cannot say enough about the director.

“She is so positive and encouraging with these kids,” effuses Wyman.

Hoeker adds, “This has been a incredible theatrical program thanks to G’s hard work and energy.”

Today, surrounded by the thespians she cares about so much, G seems energized. “My illness made me appreciate moments like this,” she says. “To be back at it, directing and doing what I love with such wonderful young people is a gift — and I cherish every second of it.”

With that she is back inside, directing, coaching and guiding the kids along the Yellow Brick Road, toward a magical place filled with heart, brains and courage.

I hope to see you all at the show.

CHRIS EPTING is the author of 14 books, including the new “Huntington Beach Then & Now.” You can write him at [email protected].