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They Razzle Dazzled Us: A Chicago Review

“If you’d have been there. If you’d have seen it, I betcha you would have done the same.”
by Manny Perez

    Thomas Jefferson High School students and staff members have always had reasons to be proud of their school. Achievements in athletics are always met with trophies and awards. Accomplishments in learning and academics are emphasized with ceremonies and certificates. There is always a reward for those who exert incredible force while in their climb towards success here at TJ. What of  the Drama Department and their latest effort, Chicago?
    They strive for no trophy, nor any certificate, nor any celebration, nor ceremony, nor prize of any sort. The cast and crew’s single request is simple and modest: an audience.  An audience that may or may not choose to applaud, but they did applaud for this show. The audience could only clap, whistle, and shout as the most spectacular epic in recent TJ memory was performed before them.
    Specifically, the entire spectacle was such a plethora of talent bursting from so many unexpected sources, that plainly saying “Chicago was good” would be deemed as hideously understated. Every single aspect of Chicago was in effect spellbinding and awe-inspiring. Music, acting, vocals, lighting, backdrops, scenery, the cast itself.  Chicago was a cornucopia of amazement that left the crowd not only open-mouthed, but granting the play and its creators accolades of ovation after ovation. They deserved roses. Read more

Choreographing Chicago

A look at the choreography of TJ Drama's blockbuster production, Chicago.
by Sinjin Jones
photo by Manuel Perez
     Turn, lift, jazz, square, Charleston, grapevine, jump, and chase; choreography is the glue that holds any musical together. From the opening number, All That Jazz, to Hot Honey Rag and the closing scene, the murderous city of 1920’s Chicago is a dance-filled place.

     “Choreography is really important and we spend a lot of time teaching it to people,” said Lead Choreographer and Teacher Carole Fulkerson. For this musical Fulkerson choreographed 13 dances. With everyone from the Company (those who act as singers and dancers in the musical along with a bit of acting) to the Leads (the stars of the show) needing to look professional, choreography was no easy task.

     “It's really difficult to learn all of the dances and then to remember them,” said Dance Lead Allyson Hussey, “but we know that they’re going to look amazing in the end so we’re willing to put in the work.” Lunges, lifts, and spins all grace the stage of Chicago and the cast put a lot of work into it. “We spend at least an hour a day dancing,” said Hussey. “It takes dedication but we know it’s going to turn out well.” Some days, the cast spends up to four hours in the Dance Room learning new choreography. “With big dance numbers like We Both Reached for the Gun and All That Jazz, it's difficult because there are so many people learning it at the same time, but those end up being the best because everyone is involved and people can feel the excitement.” Read more

Building Chicago

A look at the technical aspect of TJ Drama’s upcoming production, Chicago.
by Sinjin Jones

     A number of dynamics go into creating a successful stage musical: tech, music, and direction to name a few. With TJ Drama readying their spring musical, Chicago, it is fitting to take a look at how these things come together. This week: the technical crew.

“The tech crew is in charge of lighting, curtains, props, and set pieces, just a lot of things that go into making our show successful,” says Artistic Director and Lead Tech of the production, Michael Palmieri. “Without the dedicated tech crew that we have, it would be nigh impossible to put something like Chicago together.”

Prior to the beginning of rehearsals, the tech crew took on the job of organizers and planners. “It wasn’t necessarily the most exciting work,” said Senior Techie Steven Edwards, “but it needed to be done so that when we got to building sets everything would be in its proper place.”

As rehearsal got more intense, many techies took on roles that they will keep until the show premieres. “Once everything is coming together,” said Palmieri, “we need people who can run the lights, work the curtains and run spotlights for the remainder of the production, because its important for everyone, techies and actors, to get accustomed with the aesthetics of the show.” Read more

Chicago Cast in Stone

Drama Dept. announces talented Chicago cast.
by Sinjin Jones

They came, they sang, they conquered. After the extensive three-day audition schedule and callbacks, the cast list for the TJ Drama Team production of Chicago has been posted.

The audition process was three-pronged. On November 27th and 28th, Chicago hopefuls gathered outside of the choir room for singing and dancing auditions. They were charged to memorize a two to three minute monologue, a two to three minute excerpt of a song, and to perform it in front of the three directors: Drama Coach Michael Palmieri, Music Director Edwina Hebert, and Choreographer Carole Fulkerson. Read more

Insight Into the Drama

A drama student dramatically divulges details.

by Manuel Perez

     Seeing as fantastically frenetic as they are, Drama Coach Michael Palmieri’s own team of drama actors and actresses are hard to capture, let alone pin down for an interview. Fortunately, with the combined use of a Moulin Rouge DVD and the promise of a feathery pink boa, I was able to lure one into my journalistic.

Natalee Pinson, a drama student on the rise, was gracious enough to answer a number of questions concerning herself, the drama department, and the upcoming Chicago play. Read more

A Madwoman Comes to TJ

From auditions to final preparations, a look at TJ Drama's production of Madwoman of Manhattan.

by Sinjin Jones

    There are four aspects of making a theatrical production come to life for an audience: auditions, directing, acting, and tech work. As the time for TJ Drama's production of Madwoman of Manhattan approaches quickly, these facets of theater become intertwined and all actors, directors, and "techies" toil tirelessly for successful shows on November 8, 9, and 10.
    Madwoman of Manhattan is an adaptation of the play Madwoman of Chaillot by Jean Giraudoux. "I was looking for a play with a message," TJ Drama Coach Michael Palmieri explains. "I wanted something that would reflect the growing interest in drama; something fun and something with numerous roles. A friend suggested this and, after reading it through a few times, I got a gut feeling that it would work." Read more

With the Right Song and Dance, You Can Get Away With Murder

Drama Department announces Chicago on slate for spring musical.

by Sarah Heath

This spring the TJ Drama Department’s musical will be the hottest show you’ve ever seen; two brilliant Spartan staff members scored big by bringing the ever-popular musical Chicago to TJ.

Chicago is the racy story of a woman who dreams of making it big as a jazz singer in the 1920s only to be sent to jail for killing her lover. Readers may remember the story from the film version released in 2002 starring Renée Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones. This production will be performed on a stage in the fashion of the original Broadway run powered by the infamous New York choreographer Bob Fosse. The stage musical was a huge hit in the seventies, traveling nation-wide. This spring Spartans can look forward to a musical, the likes of which has not been seen at TJ for many years.   "A big show, but done well…we’re going to do some really neat things really well," said TJ drama guru Michael Palmieri.

Edwina Hebert is the department’s Musical Director, and Palmieri is the Artistic Director. They are looking forward to this spring with great anticipation. Their excitement over the production was obvious when Palmieri said, "We both think that this will be a really fun show for the cast crew and audience. And also a really big step in the growth of TJ Drama."

To snatch the rights to perform the show, Palmieri sent a heartfelt letter to the owner’s of the play's copy rights. The show, including rights, scripts and music will cost the department only $3,000.

As for the racy nature of the show, Palmieri stated, "Any way you look at it Chicago is a little over the top. Our goal is to maintain the integrity of the show with the consideration that it is being performed on a high school stage. I guess you could say we intend to tastefully push the envelope."

The big band numbers will have live musical accompaniment. They’re leaning towards asking for the teaching staff's musical talents to mix with student musicians, the same group who helped play the score at last year’s Godspell. The big dance numbers will be choreographed by Carole Fulkerson. Hebert said, "Its really exciting, TJ kids getting their chance to shine in a big name show.  No one has done this in DPS since before 1985, if ever."

Read more

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