Note: The CB West Harlequin club is offering a special $10 ticket to any West student, teacher, or staff member with an ID. Tickets can be reserved by emailing Harlequin club’s ticket email [email protected] and following them on social media or sharing their posts.
As opening night approaches for Chicago: Teen Edition, this year’s spring musical for the Harlequin club, I wanted to talk to the people who know it best. I had a chance to speak with its director, Ms. Piechotta, and some of the incredible cast members involved.
Ms. Piechotta described the musical and its key players, by saying, “The characters are witty, self-absorbed, overblown, narcissistic and even ridiculous at times, but set against the backdrop of the jazz age, the story simultaneously exposes the dark underbelly of the justice system, the fickle whims of the public and the power of the press to sensationalize crime and criminals”. This popular musical follows the story of Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, two murderesses and aspiring vaudeville performers who partner with attorney Billy Flynn to make headlines and become famous.
Ms. Piechotta added, “We had to double cast our two leads- Velma and Roxie- because of the abundance of talent in our program, so the performances on all fronts -acting, singing and dance- will be top notch. The costumes are spectacular, the set is innovative and projections original, and the band is going to be stellar with a mix of talented student musicians and some pro adult players. The choreography, storytelling, and staging will be polished and exciting.”
This same sentiment was echoed by every cast member I had a chance to talk to while I enjoyed a sneak peek at an after-school rehearsal. As we chatted in the empty auditorium seats, the cast running through songs in the background, each actor raved enthusiastically about the choreography and various elements of the show.
Evelyn Sanchez (“Mama” Morton and an Art Lead) and Noble Simpson (Billy Flynn and an Art Lead), looked back fondly on the past musicals they’ve been a part of this year, mentioning Ranked and Macbeth and citing the differences between them; Ranked being a contemporary and relatively new musical (that I enjoyed a chance to see in the fall), and Macbeth, a classic Shakespearean play. But their acting in Chicago, a musical they described as extremely extravagant, will be completely different because of its comedic nature.
This change in acting was also mentioned by Ms. Piechotta: “…this show is something entirely different with its stylistic storytelling, presentational attitude and “tongue in cheek” delivery. It takes work to maintain the integrity of the satire and story, while also teaching performers to lean into the comedy and presentational nature of the piece.” As for the differences in overall genres of musicals this year, she explained, “I…think it’s important to offer a variety of plays/musicals to expose students to different genres, styles, and time periods…so a heavy dance, jazz age musical like Chicago seemed like a great compliment to the season.”
Max Simeone (Amos) also discussed how Chicago was different as it deals with murder, and, in contrast to other musicals, most of its characters aren’t the best people. He also talked about his excitement for everyone to see the show because of its talented performers.
Apart from its unique genre and story, Chicago is well known for its iconic musical numbers and dances, which, as Ms. Piechotta explained, are also “notoriously challenging”. In my discussions with cast members, songs like “Cell Block Tango”, “All That Jazz”, “Mister Cellophane”, and “Funny Honey” were mentioned as being some of their favorites (although “We Both Reached for the Gun” is a personal favorite of mine). Meanwhile, its choreography was praised by both Lyla Jimenez (Velma) and Maddy Lutz (Ensemble).
All of the cast members I talked to were incredibly enthusiastic and eager to discuss the musical, weaving in anecdotes and their own experiences as part of the show. Lyla Jimenez (Velma) said, regarding the cast, “[They’re] some of the most sweet and caring people you’ll ever meet” and that “Harlequin club is a really great opportunity to find connections with people in a new school.” I witnessed this comradery firsthand as I watched the cast rehearse. They laughed and supported one another, all while showing off their passion and clear talent.
I can’t wait to see Chicago and to watch the culmination of all the hard work and dedication put in by everyone involved. I know I’ll be tracking down a West student special ticket, and you should too. Tickets are on sale now for Thursday, March 26th, 2026, through Sunday, March 29th, 2026.
