This past musical season the HMHS drama club put on Chicago: Teen Edition. This was the first musical season without Mr. DiDonato as director, (welcoming a new face, Ms. Ava Kepple for the job), and came as a resounding success across audiences. Leading roles included Elena Domenico (a junior) as Roxie, Mia Bompensa (senior) as Velma, Jack Laska (freshman) as Billy Flynn, Nick Hehl (junior) as Amos, Eleanor McMackin (junior) as Matron Mama Morton, and Becca Seligman (sophomore) as Mary Sunshine. “Playing Velma was an absolute delight,” explained Bompensa, when asked about her experience playing such an iconic character, “She had been a dream role of mine for a long time…I tried not to be influenced too much, however, by other portrayals of Velma because I wanted to make her my own and different from the others.” Velma is featured in the famous opening of the show, “All That Jazz,” which was a favorite of Bompensa’s to perform.
The story itself follows the lives of two women (Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly) as they navigate the aftermath of killing their respective romantic partners, trying to obtain fame and glory in the process. The two are guided by greedy, charming lawyer, Billy Flynn, whose affections are as fleeting as the media attention given to their cases. Other focuses hone in on Roxie Hart’s husband, Amos, as he tries to help her despite her infidelity, as well as brief mentions of the stories of the other female inmates through the “Cell Block Tango.” Other memorable numbers include the high-energy “We Both Reached for the Gun,” and “Razzle Dazzle.”
Char Viola, the student director of this year’s production, confirmed that the show’s run (which was two consecutive weekends, the weeks of March 8th and 15th) included successful “roaring” audiences and two fully sold-out shows. “This show solidified my love for theater,” exclaimed Viola, “Everyone worked so so hard, and the memories we made are ones for the ages.”
Throughout the season, the cast participated in two events new to the program: the Moorestown Theater Expo and a special 30-minute preview given to the school. Both contributed to the overall success of the show through ticket sales and exciting, entertaining performances that led to “laughing, applauding, [and] cheering.” Following this production, the HMHS drama club will be putting on its annual Bulldawgs on Broadway concert (free to audiences), with the theme of jukebox musicals. It will be performed on May 4th.
