By Gene Robbins, Managing Editor
”Beauty and the Beast” will be the latest Broadway musical challenge to be taken on by Hillsborough High School students.
Director B.J. Solomon announced that the musical love story, based on the animated film, will be presented March 8-16 as the highlight of the stage year.
Presentation of the year’s theater slate was woven into the second annual “opening night” on Monday. Broadway performers on their night off (the Great White Way is traditionally “dark” on Mondays) came to Hillsborough at Mr. Solomon’s invitation to sing with the high schoolers for an audience of 175.
Professional performers from “Hairspray,” “The Lion King,” “Spiderman,” “Wicked” and “In the Heights” joined students on stage.
An added treat for the audience was the reappearance of college student Nick Ferrao, who was the Phantom two years on the Raider school stage. He reprised the featured song, “Music of the Night,” from the show.
The school’s theater program will start its year Nov, 15-17, when “A Christmas Carol” is staged. It’s the familiar story of Ebeneezer Scrooge’s redemption at holiday time. The show promises to deliver a heartwarming message, along with hundreds of costumes and special effects, said Mr. Solomon.
Charlotte Bronte’s Gothic love story, “Jane Eyre” will be brought to life May 10-11. The romantic journey of introspection and epiphany is a portrayal of a great heroine.
The theater program will continued its “Hillsborough Shorts” on May 31. The stage is turned over to student directors, who are given a modest budget and unlimited artistic freedom to explore their own creativity.
Tickets for each show are $12, but you can get a season ticket for $36. Call 908-431-6600, ext. 2099, or go on the web at www.HHSTheatre.org.

