SHS Production of ‘Chicago: Teen Edition’ Showcases Efforts of Student Artists, CTE Students
‘Chicago: Teen Edition’ to run Jan. 17-19 at SHS M. Ruth Norton Auditorium
SALEM (Jan. 8, 2025) – O*N*S*T*A*G*E, the Salem High School Drama Club, presents Chicago: Teen Edition, adapted from John Kander and Fred Ebbs’ legendary award-winning musical about fame, fortune, and acquittal. Packed with catchy tunes and Bob Fosse-inspired choreography, the musical will run January 17, 18, and 19.
Performances are Friday and Saturday, Jan. 17-18 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 19 at 2 p.m. at the Salem High School M. Ruth Norton Auditorium (77 Willson Street, Salem, MA 01790). The run time of the show is 1 hour, 45 minutes with a brief intermission. Admission is $10 for students, senior citizens, and active military; and $15 General Admission. Presale tickets are available at shsonstage.ludus.com.
Chicago: Teen Edition takes place in roaring twenties Chicago, where chorus girl Roxie Hart murders a faithless lover and convinces her hapless husband, Amos, 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, vie for the spotlight and the headlines, ultimately joining forces in search of the American Dream: fame, fortune, and acquittal.
One of the longest running musicals on Broadway, Chicago has been nominated for and won a slew of Tony® and Drama Desk Awards. The SHS production of the classic crowd favorite features original choreography by local choreographer Lemar Archer and text that has been adapted to be appropriate for audiences pre-teen and older.
Among the unique things about theater is the wide variety of skills, experience, and techniques that are needed to mount a production. At SHS, where students can choose from a host of electives and extracurriculars in visual and performing arts, as well as a robust and growing Career and Technical Education (CTE) program, the annual musical is the perfect opportunity to apply classroom learning to real-world problems and hone skills needed for future careers and study.
For this year’s production of Chicago: Teen Edition, SHS Building & Property Maintenance students helped measure and cut lumber used to build the set, while students in the Graphic Design track designed poster artwork as part of a classroom assignment. Music students will play in the pit band and sing onstage, while students from the Art Honor Society and the Technical Theater class assist with designing the set, lights, and costumes, and creating props.
Indeed, there are as many students who worked on the technical elements of the show behind the scenes as those seen onstage.
“It’s really cool to point to set pieces onstage and say ‘Hey, I made that,’” says Daniel Alley, a third year Carpentry student and the production’s Student Technical Director. “Working on building the set is an opportunity to apply my carpentry skills in artistic ways that also support my interests as a musician.”
Alley, a trumpet player, also plays in the SHS Jazz Ensemble and Marching Band.
“As an educator, I feel strongly that it is important to let students into the process of creative decision making and leadership,” says SHS Director and Theater Teacher Ms. Leah Hamilton French. “Not only does this provide valuable learning experiences, but it is also a necessity. It would be impossible for one person, or even several people, to do all the work that goes into a staged musical production. When students are asked to help, they rise to the occasion spectacularly and feel a great sense of pride in that.”
That collaborative spirit will be seen in the choreography of the show. While much of it was created for SHS by Mr. Archer, there are several pieces that students worked together to create.
“Being a dance captain in Chicago is a very fun opportunity,” says sophomore Rose Shanahan. “The role did come with a lot of responsibility during the rehearsal process, but seeing the dances I choreographed and taught being brought to life by my peers was a wonderful experience, and helped me grow a lot as a dancer and instructor.”
It is one of the most important lessons to be learned from theater, according to Ms. Hamilton French.
“When we share responsibility for something, we become very invested in its success, not just for our part but for the whole thing,” she noted. “We do everything we can to support each other, because we cannot succeed if even one of us is failing. If students learn nothing else but this, I will have done my job.”
About Salem Public Schools
Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district in Salem, Massachusetts. Salem is a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Our leaders and our teachers are all passionate about education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement with equity and social-emotional needs as the lens we view all of our work through. We respect and value the racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity of our students and their families, and have a strong commitment to the Salem community. Salem Public Schools staff serve all of our students, regardless of ability or language. Salem Public Schools enrolls approximately 4,000 students across its eleven schools.
