Area families may know the high caliber of the teachers and staff in the Hopewell Valley Regional School District, but did you also know that many of them can sing, dance, and play a bevy of instruments?
You can see proof of that at the Faculty Musicale at the Hopewell Valley Performing Arts Center on Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30). The show will feature more than 40 faculty and staff members from all six of the district’s schools, dancing, singing and rocking the stage. Sponsored by the Hopewell Valley Central High School Music and Theater Parents Association (MTPA), all proceeds support arts programs in the district.
“I’m thrilled that the faculty and staff are willing to reveal and share their inner talents and passions to students, co-workers and the community,” said district Supervisor of Visual and Performing Arts, Peter Griffin. “I’m always grateful to our faculty and staff performers for giving of their time for this worthy fundraiser that benefits all of our students in our district’s performing arts programs.”
The programs in years past have included classical pieces, jazz, folk and show tunes, as well as rock and movie soundtrack numbers.
Faculty slated to appear include more than 20 performers from Bear Tavern’s staff. Also appearing, among others, will be Michele Alford from Hopewell Elementary, Amy Hail from Stony Brook, and Scott Stuhlmuller from Timberlane.
One of the highlights this year is Katie Rochon, HVCHS Director of Performing Arts, who recently came to the high school after three years at Timberlane Middle School, where she directed the school’s musicals, most recently, Into the Woods, in 2015. Last fall, she directed the high school’s compelling rendition of Dracula, and this winter she will bring Pippin to the CHS stage. She has more than a decade of professional acting and singing experience spent in New York City, and she performed for several years as a principal singer on Norwegian Cruise Lines.
Joining Rochon on stage this year will be the distict’s new Director of Dance, Gabrielle Kadets. The two will do a duet called “Nowadays/Hot Honey Rag” from the musical Chicago. And Rochon will also perform Duke Ellington’s “2&4/Hit me With a Hot Note” with Randy White, the district’s Director of Choirs.
General admission tickets are available ahead of time at www.Showtix4u.com, at $8 for students and $12 for adults. Or, you can buy them at the door at $10/students and $15/adults.
