Café Cultura and Teatro Izcalli Change Latino Views on Art

Taking ownership of their culture and traditions, these two organizations are drawing crowds.

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Practically Perfect In Every Way

Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins brings the magic of Disney to the stage. No wonder that it’s Mary that we love.

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Tech Crew Sets the Stage for Rent

New crew and old crew work together to make Rent spectacular.

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Braided Sorrow

A story of struggle and success.
by Martha Alvarez
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Fall Play “Moon Over Buffalo” Expected to Shine

TJ drama team takes on comedy for its annual fall play.
by Lauren Abrams

    Immediately as the curtain rises, Thomas Jefferson’s audience will be in hysterics as this year’s fall play kicks off with a rare comedy, Moon Over Buffalo. Read more

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

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