All that jazz! 'Chicago' comes to life at Somers High School

SOMERS, N.Y. - On Sunday, March 22, Somers High School Theater completed its three-day run of Chicago. With music, show-stopping dance numbers, plenty of humor, and a timeless message, the production’s infectious joy came through loud and clear for the audience. But achieving that level of synergy was no easy task.

“All the choreography is very intricate,” said Kristina Giudice. “It takes a lot of time, a lot of patience, and a lot of practice.”

The dancer credits the director. “Linda Duci is very well-rounded in Fosse dance,” Giudice added.

Roxie, on the other hand, is a bit more unhinged. The main character kills her lover after he tries to end their affair, then convinces her husband to take the blame. Together, they claim Fred Casely was a burglar and that the killing was self-defense.

“He had it coming,” goes the iconic Broadway lyric—and Fiona Sledzik playfully stayed in character even after the curtain came down.

“Every single time, he had it coming,” the actress joked.

Velma would likely agree. She, too, has killed her cheating husband—but as the saying goes, hell hath no fury is not a legal defense.

Enter Billy Flynn (Zavier Tejeda), who does most of his legal work in the court of public opinion—especially when it comes to high-profile clients. For Velma (Emily Lopatka) and Roxie, that makes him the perfect lawyer.

But a not guilty verdict isn’t the only thing at stake. The two defendants are also competing for headlines—and for Billy’s attention.

“It’s a little bit difficult because we love each other so much,” said Sledzik.

Drawing a parallel between grabbing headlines in the 1930s and accumulating likes in the 2020s comes naturally. “There’s always going to be a scheme to be at the top, no matter the platform,” Sledzik explained.

Lopatka also sees the message clearly. “There are a lot of girls in high school who could be a Roxie or Velma,” she said.

The same could be said for anyone drawn to the look and feel of the era. “It’s so much fun. I’ve never worn anything like this,” the senior said of her silver-and-black vaudeville dance costume.

Caught in the middle is Billy Flynn—and according to Lopatka, Zavier Tejeda fully embraces the role. “He’s all in and putting his best foot forward,” she said.

In fact, it’s a bit of a two-step. While the character presents himself as idealistic, he’s ultimately driven by fame and money. “I get to play both the good guy and the bad, and finding that balance was a challenge,” said Tejeda.

Also in the mix is Zach Gordon, who plays a reporter and recognizes that some things never change. “He wants to get the scoop, get the scoop, and get more scoop,” said the junior.

No matter the cost, Gordon noted that the emotional lift of the show stands out—especially during its signature number. “All That Jazz—I always feel like I’m about to cry,” he said.

That sentiment aligns with how Giudice views the show’s deeper message and its relevance today. “Losing yourself in social media or getting caught up in whatever is going on in the world,” she said, “it’s so important to remind yourself who you really are.”