Chicago: Teen Edition is set in the jazz age of the roaring '20s, and tells the story of Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart, two women searching for stardom while also being tried for murder. Both of them land in the Cook County Jail and plot their comeback to the spotlight and release from prison. There’s greed, scandal, betrayal, and a dash of razzle dazzle!
We knew that Chicago would be a surprising choice for a Catholic high school musical, but were confident that the teen edition would allow our students to put on an appropriate production of one the longest-running American musicals in Broadway history. Not only did this musical allow our cast to perform some of the most iconic broadway songs, but also allowed us as dance instructors to introduce our students to the classic broadway jazz choreography of Bob Fosse.
With minimal sets, costumes, and lighting, this production really challenged our actors to become their characters through the use of song and dance and showcased the immense talents of our Academy students.
For all of our performers and crew members, this is the first opportunity in their high school careers to perform in a traditional theater setting. As freshmen, our current seniors' 2020 production of Mary Poppins was canceled the day before opening night due to the pandemic. The 2021 production of The Theory of Relativity was rehearsed while masked, performed socially distanced, and recorded for audiences to view virtually. Emma! A Pop Musical, while more traditionally performed in front of an audience, was held in the Academy's Study Hall, as our academy theater is currently out of commission.
We have seen how much theater, dance, and art have meant to our students over these difficult few years and have experienced so much joy in having everyone together and watching them learn, grow, take charge, and challenge themselves to do more than they ever believed they could. They learn just as much, if not more, through the rehearsal process as they do on the stage and we've learned just as much from them through this process.
To our seniors - it has been a crazy few years and we are so immensely proud of your perseverance. Your love of the theater is obvious and we hope that we have taught you well beyond song and dance. Take the courage, trust, and joy you have found through this experience and find those same things in whatever you choose to do from here - be it the theater or other passions.
"In fifty years or so, it's gonna change, you know. But, oh, it's heaven nowadays."
Miss Christin & Miss Erin
