There is a serendipitous symmetry to Aliyanna Hudson acting in “Chicago.”
The teenager portrays Roxie Hart, a lead character in this month’s Ilwaco High School production.
“Roxie” aspires to break into professional show business, although her dreams are interrupted by a 1920s’ murder.
“It’s awesome,” said Hudson. “It’s really cool to play an actor who wants to be up at that level, who wants to be a star, because I personally want to be a star! I want to go to Broadway — or at least try to. I am going to go to New York when I graduate next year.”
The musical opens Friday April 11 and runs two weekends at the Hilltop Auditorium. The script is the “teen edition;” adult language has been omitted and a couple of the songs from Bob Fosse’s 1975 original are missing. Admission is $10 at the door.
Rachel Lake is excited. “Bringing ‘Chicago: Teen Edition’ to the stage has been an absolute joy,” she said. “This is a production I’ve dreamed of doing for years, but I knew we had to wait until we had the voices and talent to do it justice — and this cast has exceeded every expectation.
“The level of dedication from these students is truly unmatched; they rise to every challenge and continue to raise the bar.”

‘Engaged’
Marlena Trujillo, who leads the drama program at Hilltop Middle School, is assistant director, and Carole Chase, Fishermen cheerleading coach, is the choreographer; students affectionately call them “Dr. T” and “Miss C.”
“I could not do this without our incredible choreographer, Carole Chase, or our brilliant assistant director, ‘Dr. T.’ Their vision and expertise have been instrumental in making this show a reality,” said Lake.
Chase has been involved with “Chicago” productions twice, one with a professional troupe and one with college students. “It has been really really interesting and inspiring to work with students who are not previously dancers,” she said. “You see them pick up the choreography and be so engaged in it. I just think it is important to preserve our musical theater history by introducing a new generation to this classic.”
Trujillo previously taught drama and directed theater productions in Vancouver schools. It is her second year collaborating with Lake.
“I was in college when the movie came out, so of course we went to see it and loved it,” she said. “I grew up listening to jazz music —my Dad played trumpet, and we listened to New Orleans jazz. So it was a show that I definitely gravitated toward. I have never been involved in a production of it, so it is nice to work on ‘Chicago.’”

‘Fantastic’
The play on which the musical and 2002 Oscar-winning movie is based satirizes the “celebrity criminal” of the 1920s’ Jazz Age. Women accused of murder — facing the death penalty if convicted — were subjected to sensational news coverage by fiercely competing Chicago newspapers. Songs include “All That Jazz,” “Cell Block Tango” and “Razzle Dazzle.”
Roxie is going on trial for killing her lover; the other female lead, Velma Kelly, played by Jay Schenk, is charged with killing her cheating husband. Fellow senior Hayden Gentry portrays their sleazy defense attorney Billy Flynn.
He is a familiar figure on the Hilltop stage. “My Mom used to drive me down here and she had a CD of the movie version of this and we would listen to that CD on the way,” Gentry said. “I remember really liking the Billy Flynn songs — so it is actually a role I have wanted since I was seven years old!”
For Schenk, also, the joy is evident. “It has been absolutely fantastic,” she said. “I love theater. I love dance. So being able to be in a role where I really get to express myself and sing and dance in my favorite musical genre, which is jazz, has been wonderful. It is the perfect senior play for me, Honestly, I don’t think I could have asked for a better one.”
Blake Bell plays Amos, Roxie’s husband, Aric Weston plays Roxie’s victim, and Emma Smith is Matron Mama Morton, who leads the way in the jailhouse.
Agatha Davidson, a freshman, is having a blast playing Mary Sunshine, one of the “sob sister” journalists. “I have done a lot of theater, but not really dancing in theater, so it has been really cool to learn how to do that,” she said.

’Flawless’
Lyla Inskeep was assigned as dance captain. “She is such a great teacher,” said Trujillo, the assistant director. “A lot of the students look to her for support.”
The cast includes Azzie Eckhardt, Giselle Gardner, Avalon Hildebrandt, Jenna Karnofski, Madison Key, Noah Kraynak, Ireland McKenzie, Matthew McNeal, Kara Meinhardt, Clover Miller, Juliet Perez, Keowah Rodriguez Iyall, Hayzel Sager, Ruary Schimelpfenig, Autumn Shaw, Alexander Shirley, Katelyn Sterling, Keira Watters and Ophelia Wise.
Students lending technical talents include Isaak Alires-Menconi as stage manager, Brent Curry, audio engineer, and Benjamin Davis, lighting engineer. Lake praised the trio. “Behind the scenes, our student crew runs everything so smoothly that I never have to worry — Isaak keeps things moving backstage, Brent ensures the sound is flawless and Ben makes the lights shine just right,” she said.
Hudson, who has appeared in community theater, agreed with the adult leaders that adding a significant dance component has been the most challenging for the cast.
“I think it is a large step-up from what we have done previously — the production level and the skills,” she said, commending Chase for sharing her expertise. “This is our first time, at least in high school, where we have done dancing in musical theater and I feel I can’t go back to the normal ‘park and bark’ sort of stuff!”

MORE INFORMATION:
“Chicago”
A musical by Ilwaco High School Drama Club, directed by Rachel Lake
Hilltop Auditorium, Ilwaco
7 p.m. April 11-12, 18-19; 3 p.m. April 12-13, 19, 20.
Tickets $10, at the door.