This past weekend, the YLHS Theatre Department performed its closing show of Chicago. 

From afar, it looked as if the cast was smiling and happy to finally be done with the show; however, if one looked closely, you could see the cast shedding tears during bows as they realized that the show they all put their heart and soul into had sadly come to a close. YLHS Theatre put on a “razzle dazzling” performance, but the most important part of this performance was the dedication and passion that was put in to make this show a masterpiece. On the surface, it may seem like putting on a show is a walk in the park, but behind the scenes, putting on a show is a lot of hard work and dedication.

In this article, we are going to take a look behind the scenes and ask the cast of Chicago everything from their audition to closing night! 

Audition Process → To Seeing the Cast List!

Auditions and callbacks are most certainly the scariest part of a show process. For auditions, YLHS students had to prepare a 32-bar cut of a song and perform it to director, Cathy Petz, music director, Nick Bravo, and choreographer, Dylan Shube. Students also had to participate in a dance audition where they danced to choreographed sequences to “Both Reached for the Gun” and “Cell Block Tango.” After their auditions, they waited anxiously for the callback list, where they came back the next day and did some more singing and dancing–therefore, narrowing down the cast list for the director to cast.

Waiting for a cast list to come out is, without a doubt, nerve-wracking. However, once the cast list of Chicago came out, the students could not feel more excited. Katie Ruoo (12), who was cast as Velma Kelly, said she felt “Nothing short of excitement. I had never felt so beyond ecstatic and vivified as this had been my dream role for so long.” Andrew Gardner (11), who was cast as Billy Flynn, said “[His] initial reaction was to call Katie Ruoo, happy and excited.”  The students in this cast just could not wait to get started.

A Rigorous Rehearsal Process

The rehearsals for this show started the day after the cast list came out–which consisted of only two rehearsals. Then, the students were able to enjoy their summer break before coming back to a two-week-long rehearsal intensive on August 12. Their main focus was to learn all the dances, as Chicago is a very dance-heavy show. Nathan Song (11), an ensemble member, said, “The most challenging part of the show was learning and memorizing all the dances.” While learning the dances was challenging and tiring, the cast members still had a blast doing what they loved. Carter Gaiss, another ensemble member in the show, said his favorite song in the show to dance in was “Roxie” because “the group of people [he] got to share the stage with in that number was unforgettable and it was so special and exciting to perform.”

Other than choreography, the cast had to learn the music and block the entirety of the show. Addy Shoup (12), who played Roxie Hart, said “The most challenging part regarding lines was remembering all [her] lines in ‘The Courtroom Scene.’”  While it was challenging, the cast got to hone in on their character work and explore who their characters were in the show. And most importantly, they got to make friendships with each other that will last a lifetime. Katie Ruoo (12), remarked that “[her] relationship with her castmates grew throughout the rehearsal process due to the amount of effort and passion that [they] all put into this show. Although this rehearsal process was tiring and rigorous, without it, they would not have been able to put on such a good show or make everlasting bonds with their castmates.

Tech Week – The Final Stretch!

Finally, a week before their opening show, the cast enters into “tech week.” Tech week is a long week where the cast’s rehearsals go from 3:30-9:30 every day up until opening night, including a Saturday rehearsal from 10 am to 10 pm. While this week is very tiring for the cast, it is the week where they clean up their show and make it perfect. Tech week is also a very integral part of the bonding experience of the cast. While spending long hours in the Forum, the cast can bond and become a team during these long hours. While tech week may seem too long or unneeded, tech week is very important in putting a show all together.

The Final Touches

Although the actors and actresses of YLHS Theatre have to work exponentially hard to put on an amazing production, it would not be possible without the help of the tech crew. The tech crew works tirelessly in the background to ensure every cue, light, and sound effect is executed flawlessly! As the Overture plays, Stage Manager Elliott Large opens the curtain and “(he) watches (his) castmates do their very best work in the spotlight”( Elliott Large 10). Elliott, as well as many other students and parents, helped work to build the set over the rehearsal process. But it’s not just the sets that create the magic. Assistant Stage Manager Aaron Alonso shared her experience of controlling the soundscapes that bring each scene to life. “I don’t think the audience typically thinks about what the show would be like without sound.” Aaron says, “Just one missed cue could make or break a scene!” (Aaron Alonso 10). 

Opening Night Jitters

As opening night approached, there was only one question on the minds of the cast. Addy Shoup (12), who played Roxie asked, “Are we ready to put on a show after such a long rehearsal process?” Nevertheless, on opening night, the cast and crew of Chicago put on a stunning performance for a practically sold-out audience. Meanwhile, stage manager Elliott Large coordinated the crew, ensuring props were set and lights were ready to go. “The pressure’s on, but we’ve rehearsed this so many times that it’s like muscle memory now,” he said (Elliott Large 10). For the students, opening night isn’t just about showcasing their talent; it is about the amount of teamwork, dedication, and months of hard work that were put into the show. When the final bow was taken, the cast and crew exchanged hugs and cheers backstage, their shared sense of accomplishment glowing!

Closing- A Bittersweet Goodbye

The closing night of a show not only marks the final performance but also the bittersweet saying goodbye to the hard work put into making it show stopping. According to Katie Ruoo, “The cast of Chicago was like my family. It was so hard to say goodbye on closing night to such a hard-working group of people.” (Katie Ruoo 12). The entire cast celebrated closing night by going to In and Out Burger and relishing in their extreme accomplishments throughout the past two weekends. “My relationship with the cast has grown exponentially over the past few months. I have grown close with people who I never thought I could even become friends with! The entire cast worked so hard for this show, and it paid off. I am so ecstatic I could play the part of Velma Kelly and work with this incredibly talented group of students.” (Katie Ruoo 12). 

The cast stayed later into the night, cleaning up the set, packing away props, and sharing one last laugh as they took down the musical they had spent months creating. There was so much pride in what they had achieved together, but also a deep sense of loss as they faced the end of an era! “It’s the perfect way to end,” said senior Addy Shoup (12) “But it’s also the hardest part, which is knowing that it is over.”