Chicago

Chicago

Brianna Chavez and Rebekah Snyder

As a high school student, my interviewers attended my school’s performance of the musical Chicago. They went into the play with high expectations, after hearing about the incredible talent of our school’s drama department. Needless to say, the production exceeded every expectation they had.

 

Chicago, tells the story of two women, Roxie Hart, and Velma Kelly, who are guilty of murder in 1920s Chicago.

 

Chicago is known for its unique storytelling and iconic songs. As we’ve interviewed a few students here at Buena Park High school we were able to get a more in-depth behind-the-scenes look into the effortlessly captured play by this wonderful musical produced here at BPHS. Mackenzie Shane, a 12th grader played two major parts in this musical as she was Main Cast and publicist in Theatre Cabinet.  

 

Her role in the musical production of Chicago was rthe Matron of the prison, Matron “Mama” Morton. Mama is this “overly confident, exaggerated caricature who is very into bribery and exploitation,” said Mackenzie.

 

To truly capture the character, of Mama, Mackenzie had to step out of her comfort zone to embody this role “a lot” as she wasn’t “used to being so exaggerated and so overly confident. It’s not that I’m not a confident person, but to act so beyond confident in everything I do, the movements, the way I talk, it was crazy.”

 

The high school production captured the mood and tone of the music perfectly. The set was a black-and-white design, which allowed for the bright costumes and choreography to really brighten up the stage. The orchestra, played by students, was presented flawlessly, adding to the overall energy of the musical.

 

However, the real star of the show was the cast. The lead was played by an incredibly talented high school student, Talia, who played one of the leads, Roxie Hart, who brought an unmatched charisma and stage presence to the show.

 

Mackenzie Shane believed that Talia “really, really stepped out of her comfort zone. She’s never been in a production before, but to be able to just completely embody her character is beyond impressive, especially with her stage fright. I’m very, very proud of her.” She worked incredibly well. The supporting cast was equally as impressive, doing complex choreography with ease. The choreography was aggressive and captivating, drawing the audience in and keeping them on the edge of their seats.

 

Overall, our high school production of Chicago was a beautiful and well played performance. The talent displayed by the cast and crew was amazing, making it an unforgettable experience. It’s performances like these that truly show the incredible arts programs that high schools have to offer, like ours at BPHS and it’s a reminder of the importance of supporting the arts in education.