After months of rehearsals, Old Saybrook dRAMa presented Chicago: The Musical on March 5th, 6th, and 7th, with a total of 4 shows. The story of Chicago features the 1920’s jazz age and two fame-hungry killers, Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart. Velma and Roxie go above and beyond to exploit the legal system and media to achieve stardom. Nicole Willis, the director of Chicago, and many other shows at Old Saybrook High School believes “[The show] was exceptional. Every now and then you have the right kids, and the right show, and the right creative team, and it just makes absolute magic on stage.”
The show starred Shelby Pauloski, who played Velma, and Tess Santarsiero, who played Roxie. In hopes that Roxie can follow in Velma’s footsteps of becoming a famous murderer, she conspires with a lawyer, Billy Flynn, who was played by junior Beni Misenti. Peers, teachers, and band members become riveted by the immense excitement shown on stage, with senior Emma Wakely commenting, “I am so proud of the show Old Saybrook High School Drama has put together;, they put on such a fantastic show.”
The band opened with a jazzy tune to set the stage for the actors and actresses, who erupted with shiny costumes, bright wigs, and 1920s makeup. Willis, strategically planned the outfits each character was going to wear. She states, “I took the premise of the beehive mind…everybody was in all black…when you were highlighting specific characters, you would add or take away pieces.” To provide more context to each character, Willis would have characters switch colors so symbolize a shift in personality or mood development. For example, “Everytime Tess was in a dream sequence as Roxy…she wore gold. Then at the end, she’s not her own star, which is why she settles for second place and wears silver.”
The OSHS senior performers, according to Willis, were “exceptionally talented girls on stage.” She highlights both the cast and crew,a few by adding, “Kevin Susi has been incredible with lights, our Cell Block Tango girls, Alex Hirst and Lily Dower on stage management and Tess and Shelby…what a show to go out on.” Hannah Newton, who is an art teacher at OSHS, was especially proud of senior Samantha Walsh, who played Annie, a jailmate of Velma and Roxie. “Sam Walsh’s expression and stage presence shines on stage. I am so proud of her,” she said. Similarly, Laura Caruthers, a band director of the OS middle school and high school band, who played in the show’s orchestra, furthers this sentiment,by saying, “I’m so impressed with the whole ensemble, but especially the seniors whose leadership ensured that all the snow days we had didn’t impact the show. It’s been fun to play for these kids.”
Under all the glitter and jazz, Chicago explores how scandal is manufactured into fame, and how truth is replaced by “razzle dazzle” to turn murderers into stars. In hopes to make the dRAMa club more light-hearted, next year Willis is “excited to turn a new leaf over and start with something that’s a little more family-friendly.”
