Thursday, June 23, 2022
ALEXANDRIA, Minn. -- Alexandria Area High School students will be bringing a teen edition of the broadway musical “Chicago” to the stage.
The teen edition version of Chicago is framed more as a story about greed and the perils of fame and has been adapted to remove most profanity and mature content so the musical can be effectively performed by high school students. The script was reviewed by the representatives of the Cardinal Activities Advisory Committee to ensure the appropriateness of the content.
The play will be directed by Jessica Chipman, AAHS Theatre Director. The musical will feature a cast of 21 students and a crew of 20+ students helping backstage.
Auditions were recently held and the cast has been solidified. Congratulations to the following students:
CAST
Velma Kelly: Chloe Roed
Fred Casely: Zachary Frederiksen
Roxie Hart: Parker Zwach
Amos Hart: Breck Hocum
Fogarty: Myles Frueh
Liz: Hannah Skillings
Annie: Brynn Kosters
June: Savannah Auran
Hunyak: Sydnee Byrne
Mona: Sailor Peterson
Matron “Mama” Morton: Naneisha Vargas
Billy Flynn: Tai Auran
Mary Sunshine: Leah Zenner
Reporter/Ensemble: Adison Newman
Kitty/Ensemble: Emily Staples
Harry/Ensemble: Gavyn Schmidt
Third Reporter/Ensemble: Grace Shurson
Judge/Ensemble: Teddy Tonkin
Harrison/Ensemble: Olivia Reilly
Clerk/Ensemble: Nathan Montag
Juror One/Ensemble: Miles Bryce
A crew of 20 students will be helping backstage with room to expand if there is additional student interest. Students interested in the pit orchestra will be selected in the fall.
“In my ten years of directing at AAHS, this is a record number of students interested in the fall musical, and I’m thrilled to work together with them to create a memorable experience,” stated Chipman. “We are committed to delivering a quality theatre production to our community and we invite you to join us for an incredible theatrical experience.”
There will be five performances of the musical - Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, November 17-19 at 7:30 pm, and Saturday and Sunday, November 19 & 20 at 2 pm, at the Alexandria Area High School Performing Arts Center.
The teen edition of the musical has been adjusted to be suitable for a family audience. Audience age suggestion: 12 + years. Promotional materials for the musical will include this information. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students, and will be available for purchase online in October.
Parker Zwach as Roxie Hart Tai Auran as Billy Flynn Chloe Roed as Velma Kelly
STAFF BIOS:
Jessica Chipman (MA in Theatre, MFA in Directing) is the AAHS theatre director and 2021 recipient of Communication Theatre Arts Minnesota (CTAM)'s Theatre Educator of the Year Award. Chicago: Teen Edition will be the tenth musical under her direction at AAHS, where she also directs the one act play (MSHSL Star Award, 2017-2022).
Kayla Noble returns to the AAHS fall musical as the vocal coach. She holds an MM in Music Education and is the music specialist at Lincoln Elementary School.
Jackson Grove ('18 alum; BFA in Musical Theatre) returns to choreograph his sixth AAHS musical after stints in the casts of Sacramento Broadway Circus's Kinky Boots and Carousel, and Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera's Sister Act.
Having previously assistant music directed at Ashland theatre in St. Paul, Colt Lien joins the AAHS fall musical as the pit conductor. He is currently working toward an MM in Choral Conducting and is the director of choirs at AAHS.
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