Every team working at the musical has been working hard to bring Harrisonburg High School (HHS) their most recent work,“How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” The Costume Design team is one of the many essential parts of the musical since they complete the setting that the audience sees.

Freshman Luella Shradley, London Fulk and Designer and Supervisor Stanley Swartz are the people managing the costumes for each actor in the musical. This was a new experience for Freshman Shradley. 

“It’s just about helping where we are needed, like today…We are going to get little pieces of ribbon and put the names of the people’s costumes…Just so they can wash it and the tape doesn’t fall off and we know exactly whose it is…So [we] just [do] like little tasks.” Said Shradley.

Each costume for the musical was carefully prepared so it not only matched the time period, or the characteristics of the character. The costumes were planned so even the colors that the actors are using match with the stage colors.

“I worked with the set designer for quite a few years so he and I were talking back and forth about colors in the set and also for the costumes, and how they will coordinate with each other, and we pick colors that were very popular in the 1960’s,” said Swartz.

Colors weren’t the only thing that was a tricky part of preparing the costumes for the musical. Costume design was also having challenges with friend clothes that were as accurate to the 1960’s as they could find. 

“[It was hard] trying to find enough period pieces from the 1960’s that actually fit all the 46 members of the cast…We modified a lot…We’ve whatever needed to be done, so we hemmed skirt, we’ve hemmed trousers, takin in dresses, we’ve made long sleeve blouses shorts sleeved, I mean,  whatever need to be done,” said Swartz. 

Despite the challenges, creativity wasn’t stopped. Since the musical is a comedy, that allowed exaggerations to be made. 

“I can do some exaggerations with some of the costumes, and there are several characters that are pretty outlandish, so I picked clothes that showed that,” said Swartz.

For the students helping with costumes, this was a memorable experience for them. They went to new places within the school and learned more about how theater is done here in HHS.

“Needing to get something and then it being taken for ever, and then finally getting it and then being like, yes we found it! The prop closet is really cool, it has some of the groups of outfits,so there is like a whole bunch of things, and it has extra fabric and a whole bunch of different props,” said Shradley.

Freshman London Fulk also shared an exciting experience white working in Costume Design. 

“We got to see a lot of special places around the school, like the boiler room,” Said Fulk.

Senior Billy Perritt has performed in musicals throughout his high school career. For his last musical here at HHS, he has been named the Lead Actor.

This musical has drawn emotion from Perritt.

“It’s really sad because I’ve had some of my memories in high school through the musicals,” Perritt said.

Musicals have taught Perritt things that translate into his off-stage life.

“It’s taught me how to take responsibility so I guess theater has taught me a lot in that sense. In terms of keeping myself on task and accountable but it also taught me how to be a better person,” Perritt said.

Having a leadership position in the musical presents unique dynamics for Perritt.

¨In any lead role there’s an extra sense of responsibility in being prepared and knowing all your stuff because just naturally people are looking up to you more as a role model. I have quite a few more lines than I’ve ever had before and so it’s been challenging learning them because it’s just something that I haven’t done before,¨ Perritt said.

Perritt was originally nervous to audition during his Freshman year, however Perritt feels that it has payed off.

¨Its taught me to step outside of my comfort zone a little more because freshman year i was super nervous to audition I thought I couldn’t do it and it wasn’t for me but I wanted to and i did and I’m so glad I did because I’ve had the time of my life,” Perritt said.

Among the musicals Perritt has performed in, two stand out.

“The most çhallenging has been this year just because of the sheer amount of stuff that I’ve had to learn and memorize. I have a lot of lines, songs and the most scenes I have ever had to learn. The most memorable for me was newsies I was the character henry and that show was fun and the people in that show were awesome,” Perritt said.

As the lead, Perritt has felt the need to make connections with many of the underclassmen.

“I think it’s just as simple as just talking to people during the breaks and times when we aren’t rehearsing. But just talking to people, getting to know the rest of the cast especially the younger people and the freshman coming in, just those connections really makes everybody feel better about themselves and feel more at home,” Perritt said.

Even after performing in four musicals, Perritt has still seen changes within himself during this year’s musical.

“I’ve changed a lot. I’ve seen significant change in myself since my first production. I’ve become more confident as a performer on stage. In all three aspects of musical theater, singing,acting and dancing. I’ve seen most growth in my movement abilities and dancing abilities,” Perritt said.

Freshman Olivia Snow brings a new face to the HHS stage. Snow earned the role as Advertising Secretary in the show.

Snow started her acting career in 6th grade at Thomas Harrison middle school.

¨My first show was Zandue Jr. I was the understudy for the lead character. I joined Theater because it would be a fun way to spend my time,¨ Snow said.

Snow understands the differences in high school theatre compared to middle school theatre.

¨Everyone knows what to do versus the director telling you how to do everything. I know what do to as my character and how to make her unique¨ Snow said 

Snow’s character doesn’t have a name but more of a category. It’s given the opportunity for Snow to get creative.

¨It was fun being able to build my character, her name is Debra and she’s kinda a sassy queen. Debra doesn’t really like her job but comes to make the money¨ Snow said ¨Im on stage alot im in the background but its an office building so it’s stirring with energy and i am the energy,¨ Snow said.

Snow has learned to balance the off-stage responsibilities alongside her character responsibilities.

¨I feel like I’ve learned a lot about time management and I still have to come home and do my homework so learning how to balance everything and im learning new things,¨ Snow said.

Snow’s sister Annie Snow is also in the musical and she looks up on and off stage.

¨I look up to my sister. She’s not the biggest character; she still finds a way to make her character known. She really gets it all done and she’s a great singer and dancer so I really look up to her¨ Snow said ¨She comes home with so much work but can balance it and still have time for herself it’s really cool¨ Snow expressed,” Snow said.

All of the music in the musical this year is performed backstage by the Pit Orchestra. Pit Orchestra Conductor, Daniel Upton has conducted the music behind the musical for 10 years.

“Since I arrived at HHS in 2012, this is my 10th year conducting the pit orchestra. The first 3 years I was here I played percussion or was a sound engineer.  2024 was the only year I have not been involved in the musical,” Upton said.

The students and sometimes HHS staff begin rehearsals about a month before the shows.

“We begin rehearsing in January about 3 days a week. Learning parts and becoming comfortable with the book. The parts are written for professionals so it takes a lot of focus and drive!” Upton said.

With such a short time frame to familiarize yourself with the music, there are some challenges in order to play it smoothly.

“The most challenging thing is the amount of music we have to learn and the amount of key changes in the parts,” Upton said.

In order for the whole ensemble to run smoothly, the musicians need a positive mindset in order to see it through to the end result.

[The musicians] need to buy in, passion for the process and end result. It is very tough at times, but the reward is huge,” Upton said.

For somebody joining the pit orchestra for the first time, it is not like your typical concert band experience.

“My advice for new musicians is to stay positive and realize the process takes time but always comes together.  It is much different from a concert setting because there is a lot more music, it is non stop and relies on piano, drumset, etc,” Upton said.

Occasionally, things can go wrong on stage. Over his years, Mr. Upton has learned how to adapt and pivot when things don’t go according to plan. 

“[If something goes wrong] We need to recover as fast as we can and not mess it up a second time. Be quick to adapt and make adjustments in the moment. Absolute focus from the conductor is required throughout the production to keep it on track,” Upton said.

Overall, you cannot see them but the pit orchestra puts in a lot of work in order to make the show what it is.

“The music creates the ups and downs of the show, the emotions, the excitement. It drives the story and the pacing,” Upton said.

Phoebe Kauffman, a senior at HHS, has been a part of the musical for all of her high school life. Starting out her freshman year as a props manager, and ending her senior year as a stage manager.

“I have done musical all four years. I auditioned the first year, and I didn’t get in, so then I did crew instead. But I’m actually really glad because I really like doing that and I did props and now I get to be stage manager,” Kauffman said.

Last year, the stage managers who were graduating had crew members who had an interest in being a stage manager shadow them. It was a way for the new stage managers to be chosen fairly and for directors to see how they would do. This also allowed crew members to see if they truly wanted to be a stage manager.

“You could sign up if you wanted to be a stage manager shadow, and follow them around and stuff, so I did that,” Kauffman said.

Being the Stage Manager adds unique responsibilities.

“It’s kinda been a lot because we have to be there every day and starting earlier than I normally do for crew. Even when most of the cast aren’t called we still have to be there. So it’s been a lot but I really like it and I am very happy they picked me,” Kauffman said.