Deer Lakes students to present 'Chicago' as high school musical

Deer Lakes will be bringing a high school edition of the broadway musical “Chicago” to the stage.

Co-director Matthew Derby said the show will be a “nice return to form” after last year’s spring musical being canceled amid the pandemic.

The musical follows the story of a woman named Roxie in 1920s Chicago who wants to be a famous performer, but she’s not too talented.

She receives her 15 minutes of fame after she kills her husband, becoming part of a high-profile murder trial.

Derby sees the story, based on real crime stories from the era, as a satire of high-profile crime cases and how they make people celebrities. The high school edition of the musical has been adjusted to be suitable for a family audience.

The show will be an hour and a half, including an intermission.

Derby said the theater department has wanted to do this musical for years and thought this year was the right time.

The musical will feature a cast of 35 students and a crew of 10 to 15 students helping backstage. Derby hopes to have a live band to perform the music.

“We always try to look and see what kids we have and the shows we have done lately. We have strong seniors and dancers,” he said.

As rehearsal kicks off in preparation for the April show, students are excited to be back on stage.

Kathryn Strang, a junior, looks forward to being in her first musical since middle school. A dancer at heart, she has enjoyed the dancing portion of her role.

“I am very excited with everything back up and running and to be given this opportunity,” she said.

Victor Cervone, a senior, will be playing Billy Flynn, a lawyer known for winning every case he takes. Flynn mostly represents cases involving women who have murdered their lovers. Cervone looks forward to getting into character and feeding off everyone’s energy.

“This is definitely going to be more fun, and, since everyone will be there, we will be able to form close relationships,” Cervone said.

Senior Anna Gerlach, who will be sharing the role of Roxie, said it has been exciting to see the show come to life during rehearsals.

“I love the music, and it is really fun interacting with friends and cast members,” she said.

Students will not wear masks during the performance, but masks will be optional for attendees.

“Chicago: The High School Edition” will be performed April 28-30 at Deer Lakes High School.