CHS presents Hairspray

The Canton High School drama club dazzled audiences with a three-night production of Hairspray — the big and bold, Tony Award-winning musical about one girl’s desire to dance and a community’s dream to belong. Nearly 100 students took part in the show between the cast, crew and pit band, and all three performances sold out and drew rave reviews. See this week’s Canton Citizen for a cast list and photos by Michelle Stark.

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A Community Comes to Life

By Bernard Mendillo

It wasn’t the three sold-out performances — with more than 800 people at each show.

It wasn’t the thunderous applause — nor the smiles, nor the tears of joy.

To me and my wife, Robin, sitting in row six, three nights in succession and delighting in the Canton High School production of Hairspray, what mattered was the seemingly instant sense of community that was created.

Created by 95 Canton High students — in the cast, in the crew, and in the pit band.

Created by the exuberant devotion of their teacher and directors — Ida Pappas, Katie Brobst and Brian Thomas.

Created by the scores of parents who helped build the set and create 1960s hairstyles and send out for the occasional pizza — well, daily pizza.

Created by Sue Harrington and the members of MusicCounts!

Those three nights last week turned a corner at Canton High as far as I’m concerned. It shouted to the world that Canton has kids with talent and heart, that Canton has kids who can come together and put on a show and bring in a crowd that may have come simply to support the kids — but who left singing not only the score to themselves but also singing the success of a community.

Hairspray didn’t cure disease, didn’t discover new planets, didn’t eradicate suffering.

Hairspray ended each night with 800 people standing and screaming and applauding.

It ended with 800 people smiling.

It ended with 800 people who put aside the cares of the world for a couple of hours — and delighted in their new-found community.

A community of the soul.

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Posted by Canton Citizen on Mar 24 2017. Filed under Photo Gallery. Both comments and pings are currently closed.