We often think of Henry Hudson Regional as a school with terrific kids, great athletes, wonderful artists and great academics. But once they get on stage and do one of their presentations, we all get to see, up close and personal, just how truly spectacular they are as actors, singers, musicians, and actresses as well.
Their latest production, 9 to 5, the musical with all that fantastic work of Dolly Parton, is indeed special when it’s presented by the Henry Hudson Admirals.
Whether it is the experienced theatrical students who are once again displaying their talent, or the new and up and coming freshmen who are more than able to hold their own in excellence, Henry Hudson’s theatrical team can take a back seat to no one. The same goes for its creative backstage team, those students and faculty and friends who can create authentic and realistic looking sets at minimal cost and maximum creativity.
Dolly Parton would indeed be proud of Ellie Conover, the senior giving her final performances at Hudson and a Metro Scholar at Two River Theater earlier this year. She’s also apprenticed at Surflight Theater and her talent and the sweetness and frustrated Doralee Rhodes aka Elie in 9 to 5 has the sensitivity and charm of Dolly herself.
Lydia Smith, a junior and a member of the Drama Club, shows outstanding talent as Violet Newstead, Doralee’s friend, the smart though impoverished widow who teams up with her friends to get even with their sexist boss Franklin Hart, played by Michael DelDuca. Lydia has so much musical talent wrapped up in one determined actress and a host of credits to her name… she’s in the Brookdale Concordia Chorale and performed with them at Carnegie Hall, she takes acting classes at Axelrod Performing Arts Center, and she’s got several plays in her acting background.
Hanna Ardolina makes the third of the trio of feisty and determined women, Judy Bernly, and her participation in this play shows her own energy and determination. Hanna is a sophomore at Allie Health and Science, which means she does a lot of commuting to be present for all the practices and everything else at Hudson as well. She’s been in community theater productions as well as playing the lead role in Zoe Butterfly. Hanna studies vocal as well as piano and you might love to hear the School of Rock Red Bank House band.
DelDuca, that sexist boss in 9 to 5, comes off great in the role, in his second performance at Hudson. He‘s a junior and was in Chicago in his premiere performance.
The supporting cast is well up to providing the rest of the talent in a stage filled with talent. Maddy Ilarraza, who plays Hart’s assistant, is also a junior and has been involved in musical theater for eight years and has performed at the Atlantic Highlands Playhouse; freshman Alex Belusko already shows talent performing in his first Hudson production, but certainly not his first involvement with the team. Alex has been a part of so many crews in other productions at the high school and knows his way around the stage.
Another freshman, Danny Neno has also appeared in other presentations, including some summer presentations with both First Avenue Playhouse close to home and Middlesex County College.
Emily Ramos is wrapping up her Hudson theatrical career with 9 to 5, graduating this year, after being in stage crews and a well as performing as Mary Sunshine in Chicago and in the ensemble of other presentations. She is a member of Tri-M Music Honor Society, a great honor on its own.
Freshman Aurora O’Neill has been on stage lots of times in the past, and her talent as Missy in 9 to 5 shows her experience and ease on stage. She’s been in A Collection of Fairytales as well as You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown among others.
Going from Sister Mary Luke in Nunsense to Kathy in 9 to 5 is quite a switch, but nothing’s too difficult for Maddi Tidswell, who has also been in Frozen, Jr. and was a crew member in last year’s Chicago presentation.
Also talented and versatile, Olivia Dabb is adding 9 to 5 as a junior to her past credits in Chicago, Mary Poppins and Al Shook Up as well as Mary Poppins.
The musicians in the pit provide all the talent anticipated at this regional school that is so terrific in the arts, and their presentations in 9 to 5 are nothing less than superb.
But on top of it all, the crew, from the director and choreographer, TJ Bodnar, who also was the creative set designer, and stage manager Aleea Newell through to the head usher Kathryn Denzler and concessions assistant Leo Koernig all showed that excellence is achieved when everyone works together as the Hudson Admirals team these very talented and very dedicated faculty and students are. Luke Ferrell took on extra duty, as lighting, sound designer and technical director, making outstanding use of all the technical, audio and visual equipment available for these unforgettable productions. Corinne Kelleher was assisted ant manger to Aleea Newell, and Dan Shultz of On Cue Costumes received the very able assist from Matthew Kane, Others in the crew that made it all happen seamlessly were Krista Phair for set painting, Nicole Kohlhepp as props designer, Shannon Kenny as props manager, Addison Krzycki who was lighting assistant along with sound assistant Calla Graiff. Blake Lewis and Savannah Roman operated the spotlights, and that backstage crew that was so timely and perfect included Dalila Ardolina, Lake Gulian, Levi Hernandez, and Elanor Weiss-Doust.
Remember all these Henry Hudson names. You’re going to be seeing them again off-Broadway, on-Broadway, in local presentations, local theater, and, with recollections of how great they are, in your heart as well.
As the Henry Hudson Board of Education said in their congratulatory message in the Playbill for the presentation, “Life is NOT a dress rehearsal. The curtain is up and you are on, so go out there and give it your Best Shot.”
The Hudson Admirals did just that!
