Hopewell Valley Central High School’s theater program is staging a production of “Chicago” for families and guests on March 8 and 9.
“Chicago” is a show with a cynical take on the fleetingness of fame and celebrity culture. Both shows will be held from 7-9 p.m.
“We have been preparing for this show for some time,” said Katie Rochon, director of theater. “We had auditions in the last week of November, we learned all of the music prior to winter break and have been at it in earnest since we came back in January.”
She said she decided on the show “Chicago,” because she has a powerful cast of female students.
“I wanted to do something very female centric,” Katie Rochon said. “We are very ready for the show. I don’t want to jinx anything by putting something out there. The students have been working hard on this production.”
The show has a cast of 35 students. They are Caleb Briggs, Finn Murray Campbell, Madeline Carleton, Nick Costanzo, Gretchen Cyriacus, Ryan Dwyer, Kolter Erickson, Fibi DeLeon Gonzales, Zoe Greene, Emily Griffen, Olivia Gross, Owen Harrison, Sam Hastings, Caroline Herbert, Shayla Moon Hermann, Molly Higgins, Julia Kizar, Camille Ladendorf, Chloe Lamond, David LaRaus, Olivia Levin, John MacLean, Andrew McManimon, Maeve Merzena, Brad Modzelewski, Yezie Nakra, Ben Piccarillo, Ruby Reynerston, Mahmoud Selym, Genevieve Shaftel, Morgan Schragger, Sachi Siyal, Kaitlyn Tift, Jimmy Waltman and Piper Ward.
“I am incredibly proud of these students,” she said. “On a personal note this year’s seniors, started with me at the middle school as sixth graders. It has been the biggest pleasure to watch them grow up. I am going to be an emotional wreck when this show closes because they are like my babies. I just feel lucky to be able to work with these amazing kids.”
Twenty students out of the 75 total in the cast and crew are seniors.
Rochon has been the high school director of theater for four years. She said every time you begin a production it is like climbing a mountain.
“One of the hardest thing is looking at a blank slate and trying to figure out how you are going to fill it in. You always chip away at it and take it in steps,” she said.
Her program in January, had students who performed at the New Jersey State Thespian Festival and those students received more than two dozen medals and “superior” ratings for acting and technical theater.
Madeline Carlton took home the award for Best Actress, while Jimmy Waltman was awarded Best Actor.
The technical theater crew also swept nearly all of its categories and Hannah Lewis won the Festival’s technical theater scholarship.
The school’s musical “Chicago” had two previous shows on March 1-2.
For more information about the March 8-9 shows, contact Hopewell Valley Central High School at 609-737-4003.