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winnetkacurrent.com life & arts
the winnetka current | May 24, 2018 | 23
FHC eighth-graders say goodbye with final show
Jacqueline Glosniak, Editor
Each year at The School
of Saints Faith, Hope and
Charity, the graduating
class presents the entire
school with an end-of-year
show. And, while most
classes have only been familiar
with the show for
a few months, this year’s
eighth-graders have been
fans of their production
for years before they even
knew it was going to be
their final show.
From Thursday-Friday,
May 17-18, this year’s
graduates performed “High
School Musical Jr.,” a
show that according to the
school’s music teacher and
director of fine arts, Dr.
Molly Cinnamon, students
have been obsessed with
since the fourth grade.
So, when the time came
to decide this year’s production,
choosing “High
School Musical” was a nobrainer.
Before winter break,
Cinnamon broke the news
to students, giving them
a packet containing the
script, music and a list of
roles for students to select
their top three for auditions.
“They were so excited,
even the boys,” she said.
“I couldn’t believe it and
the thing about it is … it
is such a feel-good show.
It’s so spirited, the music is
so good, the message is all
about teamwork and collaboration
and coming together,
and its just a really
positive show.”
Once auditions rolled
around, Cinnamon said
most students came back
enthusiastic about auditioning
for roles both big and
small.
“I wanted to make sure
they have a part they’re excited
about,” she said.
Students came to the
stage with a variety of acting
experiences, including
Glencoe resident Grace
Jaros, who played lead female
Gabriella Montez.
“I love the movie. I’ve
seen the movie a million
times, and when I found out
that we were doing ‘High
School Musical,’ I knew I
wanted to be Gabriella,”
said Jaros, who has acted
in school performances in
the past. “So, I just looked
at the movie again and
through the auditions, I
kind of just saw how much
I could try to be her.”
Like Jaros, Winnetka’s
Jamie McCabe, who
played the lead male role
of Troy Bolton, has acted
in school plays before but
said this performance was
special because it may be
one of his last.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime
experience because I don’t
think I’m ever going to be
able to do it in high school,
so I might as well have fun
with it,” he said.
Winnetka resident Dylan
Sargent, who played
Sharpay Evans, said the
role gave her the chance to
portray someone so different
from herself.
“I actually wanted to be
in this role just because I
think it’s so exciting how
her outfits are so out there
and Sharpay is not my style
at all,” Sargent said.
Cinnamon said what was
special to her was seeing all
the students come together
for a fun farewell to the
place where they grew up.
“When they’re singing
‘Breaking Free,’ they’re
getting ready to leave
a place where they’ve
been loved and nurtured,
the majority of this class
since they were kindergartners,
and now some of
them are going to go their
separate ways [for high
school],” she said. “This
is a big thing for them, so
Grace Jaros, as Gabriella, performs during The School
of Saints Faith, Hope and Charity’s production of “High
School Musical Jr.” The show ran Thursday-Friday, May
24-25. PHOTO SUBMITTED
I love that.”
Jaros agreed with Cinnamon,
saying her and her
classmates meshed well.
“It’s been really fun. I
feel like we’ve all bonded
and connected with each
other,” she said.
And, as the students are
preparing to cross the stage
at graduation in just a few
short weeks, they said
“High School Musical” really
taught them some important
parting messages as
they move on from junior
NATIONAL
high to high school.
“[My takeaway was]
to do whatever you really
want,” said Winnetkan
Maire Riley, who played
cheerleader Susan. “If you
like something, chase after
your dreams.”
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