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HVCHS Theater Program Presents “Chicago”

by MercerMe Staff

Hopewell Valley Central High School’s award-winning thespians will present the hit musical “Chicago” on March 1, 2, 8 & 9 at 7:30pm. This sharp-edged satire features a dazzling score and sensational staging by the legendary Bob Fosse.

In roaring twenties Chicago, chorine Roxie Hart (played by Maeve Merzena) murders a faithless lover (Owen Harrison) and convinces her hapless husband Amos (Jimmy Waltman) to take the rap … until he finds out he’s been duped and turns on Roxie. Convicted and sent to death row, Roxie and another “Merry Murderess,” Velma Kelly (Caroline Herbert), vie for the spotlight and the headlines, ultimately joining forces in search of the “American Dream”: fame, fortune, and acquittal. Slick and shameless attorney Billy Flynn (Kolter Erickson) represents the murderesses.

Led by the school’s Director of Theatre, Katie Rochon, Hopewell Valley’s talented thespians have been recognized with numerous awards in the last several years.

In January, Hopewell students performed at the New Jersey State Thespian Festival and received more than two dozen medals and “Superior” ratings for acting and technical theater, including awards for “Best Actress” (Madeline Carlton) and “Best Actor” (Jimmy Waltman). Hopewell’s technical theater crew swept nearly all of its categories and Hannah Lewis won the Festival’s technical theater scholarship.*

Last spring, Caroline Herbert received a Rising Star Award for “Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role” from the prestigious Paper Mill Playhouse for her performance in the school’s winter 2018 musical, the Drowsy Chaperone.

The school has also won a number of state-wide ensemble awards, including “Best Chapter Select Presentation” at the 2018 New Jersey Thespian Festival, the 2018 Foxy Award for “Best Dramatic Ensemble,” and the 2017 Foxy Award for “Best Comedy Ensemble.”

Several of the school’s performers and technical theater students have been invited to the International Thespian Festival in Lincoln, Nebraska over the last few years, and graduates of the program have gone on to attend leading collegiate performing arts programs.

All performances will be at the Performing Arts Center at Hopewell Valley Central High School 259 Pennington-Titusville Road, Pennington NJ.  Chicago runs March 1, 2, 8 & 9 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for students and seniors and can be purchased ahead of timeby visiting www.showtix4u.com/events/446or at the door on the night of each performance.

Cast: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.

* Edited 3/1/19

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