This fall, the Suffield High School drama program is taking on an exciting challenge: mounting an original musical production, BFF, which revolves around a network of high school friends and whose drama is driven by issues and struggles that people of all ages face today. It features a cast of over 20 students who all have individual roles in the play and take part in a number of ensemble pieces. Leads include Eva Nick, Felix Antwi-Mensah, Laura Drinkwater, Jack Flanagan, McKayla Cole, Fletcher Seymour, and Chase Irving. The show is energized by contemporary songs that range from feet pumping dance numbers to touching ballads to dramatic musical numbers, including such titles as “Beacon,” “Bully Fighter Forever,” “On The Line,” “Your New Best Friend,” and “You and Me and We.”
There are many dynamic cutting-edge approaches to the production of the play that reflect the role of social media in our lives, from the use of projected images and texts to multiple settings across the stage linked through digital communication. Numerous staff members from various departments are working collaboratively to produce this work under the leadership of director Carl Casinghino, technical director Joe Grimard and music director Josh Karam (an alumnus of SHS and recent grad of the University of Hartford’s music theatre program).
The show will have its premiere run on December 5, 6, and 7 of this year (Thursday through Saturday shows, 7 p.m. in the SHS auditorium). Stay tuned for more info and highlights this fall from SHS Drama Club on district sites.