Addie Cirulis ’25

Playing Roxie in Chicago has been very different from playing Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors last year. Audrey was a very timid character, and Roxie takes up a whole lot of space! It’s been fun getting out of my comfort zone.

My biggest challenge playing Roxie is that she is not a very likable character. Her actions are morally questionable, and it’s hard to make her somebody the audience will root for. I try to incorporate little moments of vulnerability, even though her lines in the script give little room for that; finding bits and pieces here and there has been difficult but fun.

Chicago is really special because it’s like a show within a show. It makes fun of the presentational qualities of society and the legal system. It’s been fun to pick the spots where I’m exaggerating or taking on another persona, as well as interpreting the subtext underneath each line: Are the characters telling the truth? What is their objective?

Before this show, I hadn’t been part of a production that involved a lot of dancing. Even though it’s not my strength, I really like dancing, so I’ve enjoyed this dimension of my role in Chicago.

Ensemble-building has been really important throughout this production because it is the biggest cast I’ve ever been a part of—24 people. I try to serve as a leader and role model on the team, and I’ve enjoyed getting to know my peers in the theatre world better.

Stella Del Mazza Rocha ’25

My character, Velma, is really spunky and mature. She has this cool aunt vibe to her that I’ve enjoyed playing around with. My favorite part about playing Velma has definitely been working on elements of her body language in terms of the way I carry myself on stage.

The biggest challenge has been dancing. Singing is my main thing, and it has been difficult learning the choreography. I’ve worked really hard on it, though, and I’m proud of what I’ve achieved.

To prepare for this role, I watched all the source material I could find: the 2002 Chicago movie, videos of other high school productions, videos of the original 1974 cast, and videos of the 1996 revival. I wanted as many reference points as possible on how Velma has been portrayed in the past. Then I sat with her and thought, “How do I see her when I read her lines on the page?”

Chicago feels significant as it is being put on during celebrations of 50 years of coeducation. It brings in women’s voices that are not often heard. I want people to come out of the play and rethink their relationships with the women around them, with celebrity culture, and the assumptions we make about each other.

I feel so lucky to have been part of such an amazing show. The cast has had such a good time, from interacting on stage to conversations in the green room. We are really close. We’ve formed a strong bond, and that will be something that lasts forever.

Jack McCarthy ’26

Taking on the role of Billy Flynn has been a novel experience for me. In the past, I’ve usually played protagonists, but Billy is definitely more of an antagonist. He is very over-the-top and showy, which is unlike other characters I’ve played and unlike me. I’ve definitely had to embrace a little bit of discomfort; it’s been challenging playing a role that’s so different. Ultimately, it’s rewarding to perform it. I think I’ll take away how important it is to get out of y our comfort zone.

Chicago as a show feels unique. Productions in the past two years have had much smaller casts. We have a pretty Prep- and Lower Mid-heavy cast but are led by a lot of Seniors and some Upper Mids, too.

Chicago has, by far, the most dance and the most costume changes. The experience has been a lot of fun, but it has been stressful, too, because it was a lot to put together in a short amount of time. As a board member of the Hotchkiss Dramatic Association, a big part of why we chose Chicago as our musical for this fall was because it is the 50th anniversary of coeducation.

Although the show takes place in the 1920s, it was written and performed for the first time in 1974, 50 years ago. We liked the timeline; we also liked how many female roles and voices it involved and how the play was written by a woman. We are celebrating female artists and their work, especially in our community.