Drama Club expands offerings for Coaler thespians

     Coal City High School’s Drama Club will present the fifth annual Broadway Revue, “60 Minutes to Broadway,” this weekend in the Coal City Performing Arts Center.
    This is the first year the club will serve as the sponsor of the musical revue set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 4 and 3 p.m. Saturday, May 5.
    Formerly under the sponsorship of Jane Swinney and Sherfy Browning, who both retired from the program this year,  Drama Club is now advised by Jack Micetich.
    Drama Club is open to any student interested in the performing arts. The student-run organization is led by Jon Englert, president; Lauren Phillips, vice president;  Sydney Carlos, secretary; McKenzie Hennessy, treasurer, and Cody Rogers serves as webmaster.
    Together with club members, the officers have brainstormed ideas with Micetich to make Drama Club a more active organization.
    Micetich and the officers have discussed reviving “Road to Reality,” a community awareness event that was last presented in 2011. Previous topics focused on drunk and impaired driving and bullying.
    Drama Club is also working on a program to bring CCHS alumni working in the arts back to school to present workshops and teach club members the various realms of theater. These master classes will focus on lighting and costume design, acting and vocal tips, and more.
    When asked what he hopes members will experience from their involvement in Drama Club, Micetich said,  “Students who are already involved in the arts will have more chances to improve their talents, while kids who are uncomfortable with being on-stage, but still enjoy the arts, will be given opportunities that also appeal to them, even if they do not want to necessarily perform.”
    Club officers  have been pushing to become more involved with the community in other ways than just performances. They want to provide individuals opportunities to be involved in the arts, which is why the club is teaming up with Small Town Theatrics.
    Drama Club will  co-host a children’s camp over the summer through Small Town Theatrics to expose younger students to different theatrical fields.
    Revenue generated from the Broadway Revue performances will allow the club to provide educational opportunities for  club members. Performers include students from both Coal City High School and Middle School.
    Profits from the shows will go directly towards Chicagoland field trips to see musicals, take master classes, and offer ways to give students an exciting way of learning about theater in its various fields.
    Micetich is eager to show the community Broadway Revue this weekend.             “The interesting thing is  students get to perform songs from shows that they might not ever have the chance to be a part of. With Broadway Revue, it gives kids a shot at portraying some of their favorite characters, even if it is just for two or three minutes in a song.”
    Micetich went on to say he hopes Broadway Revue will continue as an annual tradition that students can look forward to.
    “One of the last pieces of the show is a piece from a production called “Title of Show,” which will be performed by our five seniors. I think this song will really hit home because it talks about the legacy these seniors have left and that Broadway Revue might be the end of the road for them. I have literally watched these students grow up from when I taught them in middle school and when I transferred to teaching high school with them also becoming freshmen. To see them on-stage one last time doing what they love to do is going to be something very special, and I am excited to take that all in,” Micetich said.
    Tickets are $10  per person and will be available at the door beginning one hour prior to each show.
    Drama Club officers and members encourage the public to come out and support  these young performers and the graduating seniors as they say their last good-byes to the Coal City stage.