Pit Orchestra and Stage Crew are Tops at Musical
March 26, 2024
Last weekend’s Huntington High School drama club production of “Chicago: Teen Edition” was a smash hit that drew crowds despite many hours of torrential rain on Saturday.
The cast of actors performed exceptionally well, much to the delight of show director Michael Schwendemann, who serves as the drama club’s faculty advisor. He’s always nervous in the hours prior to each show and during the show itself, but after each performance last weekend he wore a big smile on his face.
All three performances were enhanced by a splendid pit orchestra and a hardworking stage crew. Every segment of the production seamlessly came together to pull off one of the best musicals in decades.
The pit orchestra included:
Violin I: Matthew Jimenez, Tyler Wheeler
Banjo: Christopher Wink
Keyboard I: Paulie Pecorella
Keyboard II: Naomi Lyons
Reeds: Jayden Feliciano (piccolo/flute), Felicity George (clarinet), Natalie Parrott (soprano/alto sax), Marilyn Mendoza (tenor sax)
Trumpet: Liam LaVertu, Jaden Hoff Isabell
Trombone: Ashley Berrell, Cole Lima, Ben Soric (bartitone)
Tuba: Kellee Benitez
Percussion: Alexis Haas
The stage crew featured:
Ethan Ambrosio, Kellee Benitez, Jordana Boxer, Gianna Brady, David Cruz, Richard David, Charles Desrochers, Mariana Diaz, Anya Goleski, Veda Gross, Victoria Hart, Greyson Henderson, Heather Herman, Matthew Jimenez, Eli Levi, Cole Lima, Casey Myers, Emma Mortensen, Ethan Mortensen, Jax Nappi, Alejandro Orjuela, Milo Pascucci, Arly Moreira Portillo, Christina Ray, Eva Richter, Netanya Shanzer, Audrey Sherwood, Benjamin Soric, Charlie Stanforth, Rebecca Stone, Ella Van Horn and Dylan Wong
Besides serving as the show’s director, Mr. Schwendemann also coordinated musical staging. Katherine Schmelter was the musical director and Paulie Pecorello was the vocal director. Mike Zigon and Dave Semelsberger were the technical directors. Jamie Chandler Torns and Cassidy Torns were the choreographers. Ariana James and Kyra Scott were the dance captains. Carrie Semelsberger handled set decoration, costume design and props.
