Students at Alliance High School (AHS) are working hard to prepare their spring production of “Chicago: Teen Edition” scheduled for March 30 to April 2.
\r\n“Chicago” is based loosely off of events from the 1920 prohibition era in a style that is heavily influenced by Vaudeville. When first studying the musical, the cast spent time learning about the history of Vaudeville and how it was a popular genre of entertainment that consists of a series of unrelated acts including acrobatics, comedians, singers, trained animals and dancers. The students also learned about the history that influenced “Chicago” when it was first written in the 70s.
\r\nThe musical revolves around the themes of wanting to be famous, the exponential impact of media and perception versus reality.
\r\nThe music featured in the show is heavily influenced by Jazz, which has been a running theme for the AHS music department this year. The live orchestra will feature a mix of student and staff musicians along with some professional musicians to bring this show to life. When choreographing the show, it was important to Director Carie Chunat that they stay true to the style of the original performance. They based a large portion of the choreography off of the Broadway production choreographed by Bob Fosse.
\r\nThe popular Broadway musical has been adapted for teens to perform for their families and communities with the target audience being preteen or older.
\r\n“Chicago” is a very different musical than last year’s production of “Disney’s The Lion King Jr” and for good reasons.
\r\n“When students leave Alliance High School, we want them to have experienced four very distinct shows,” Chunat said.
\r\nAs always, the spring musical has been a great partnership among the different departments at AHS. Olivia Hershberger from the Interactive Media Class is creating the promotional posters and material for the show and the American Sign Language (ASL) students have been working hard to learn how to interpret the show for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. The ASL interpretation will be available for the Sunday showing only. A section of seats has been designated Deaf/HOH Interpretation on the ticketing site.
\r\nThe show will run Thursday, March 30, Friday, March 31 and Saturday, April 1 at 7:30 pm with a matinee performance on Sunday, April 2 at 3:30 pm.
\r\nTickets for the show are $10 for adults, $8 for senior citizens and $8 for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. If a young child will be attending and an adult plans to hold them for the duration of the show, a ticket does not have to be purchased for them. Tickets are reserved seats and are available online at https://singingaviators.ludus.com/index.php. There will also be select tickets available at the door.
\r\nThe cast of “Chicago: Teen Edition” Includes:
\r\nAnna Eversdyke as Roxie
\r\nZhaniyah Wood as Velma
\r\nCaden Nicholson as MC
\r\nAndy Chunat as Amos
\r\nElijah Chunat as Fogarty
\r\nRylee Horning as Billy Flynn
\r\nMarcella Jackson as Mama
\r\nSierra Brown as Mary Sunshine
\r\nAlea Simbro as Juror One
\r\nMark Sherer as Clerk
\r\nKevin Frazier as Reporter
\r\nLily Walker as Harrison
\r\nSylvia Johnson as Mona
\r\nJosie Root as Liza
\r\nMianna Ford as June
\r\nKacie Bench as Annie
\r\nAvery Horning as Hunyak
\r\nKylee Puckett as Kitty
\r\nElijah Chunat as Harry
\r\nAdam Burse as Casely
\r\nMakenna Root, Jenna Heslop, La’Kasia Williams as Additional Female Inmates
\r\nChorus includes: Liz Burns, Elizabeth Recchiuti, Sarah Smith, Cassidy Mauck, Gabby Heslop, Natalie Luckner, Bailey Adkins, Brooke Fiegenschuh, Mackenzie Delcrol, Avery Lewis, Allison Stephenson and Courtney Asano
\r\nOrchestra Pit includes: Heather Shive, Joss Bowling, Gracie Weaver, Kai Lilly, Emily Owens, Ian Sherer, Matt Stemple, Kyle Zimmerman, Cayden Monk, Eva Miller, Zach Kinser, Olivia Hershberger, Connor Bryant, Kris Byler, Emily Johnson, Aaron Farmer, Shaun Fontaine, Kaia Canavan, Gavin Fontaine and Billy Sheak
\r\nStage Crew includes: Kennedy Master, Payten Mathes, Kaitlyn Waite
\r\nChunat serves as director of the show with Natalie Kern assisting, with lighting and sound direction by Logan McGee.