"Making Magic"

The Halsted Players began putting on productions in the 1970's under the direction of Phil Perestam and Pam Juvrud/Pinnegar. For many years murder mysteries were performed by the students of Halsted. There are few records of these earlier plays but the first one was "Any Number Can Die" some of the other productions were "A Tomb with a View" and an earlier production of Hurricane Smith. In the late 1980's "The Pirates of Penzance" was
also performed. 
 
In the 1990's some staff wanted to put on a production so the all staff production of "Bone Chiller" was put on the stage of Halsted in the winter of 1993. After that production it was decided to try to a larger musical with both staff and students working together on an equal status. Under the direction of Phil Perestam (and Donna Corso for musicals), these intergenerational activities have been well-supported by the community. In fact, since the winter of 1996 we have had an anonymous benefactor who sends several hundred dollars anonymously, in cash, toward our productions. Below is a listing of the productions for which we have records

The Sping 2002 production of Fiddler on the Roof was the last school play that Phil Perestam directed.  He retired from teaching in June 2002. Jean Perrier and Kathy Swaneveld carried on as directors from 2002 through 2009.  Melissa Flores and Meg Penny took over as directors during the 2009-10 school year with Donna Socha continuing as musical director. 

The 2012 production of "Once Upon a Mattress" recently wrapped up. The show was again directed by Ms. Melissa Flores and Mrs. Meg Penny under the musical direction of Ms. Kara Edelheiser.
 

 2006-2007
  Spring - Peter Pan (Student & staff)

2007-2008
  Spring - Annie (Student)   

2008-2009
 Cinderella (Rogers and Hammerstein) - (Student with some staff in chorus)  

2009-2010
Thoroughly Modern Millie (Students)

2010-2011

The Sound of Music (Students)

2011-2012

Once Upon a Mattress (Students)

2012-2013

 The Pirates of Penzance

The Halsted Players are hard at work rehearsing for their upcoming production of The Pirates of Penzance. They will be performing a junior version of the show, but although it is abridged, it is still closely based on the classic musical comedy written by the famous duo of Gilbert and Sullivan more than one hundred years ago, in 1879. While the show is a big part of Broadway theater history, this particular play has a lot of history for the Halsted Players as well. This is actually the 3rd time in the school's long history that the drama club will present the show, though it is the first time it will be performed exclusively by students. The cast of 30 talented actors and actresses will be meeting 3-4 times each week to work on lines and music over the next two months. Eighth grade student Mason Allen plays the part of Frederic, an apprentice to the Pirates of Penzance, a kind-hearted, motley band of pirates with a soft spot in their hearts for orphans. At the start of the play Frederic has reached the end of his apprenticeship and is planning to renounce his pirate profession and return to his rightful place in society back in England. Taylor Thieme plays his well-meaning nanny, Ruth, who mistakenly apprenticed Frederic to the pirate crew ten years earlier. Kyle Penny plays the role of the Pirate King, who schemes with Ruth to keep Frederic in the pirate band and Julia Dworzycki plays the part of Mabel, Frederic's love interest. Rounding out the main characters is Austin Kalaydjian, playing the role of the Mabel's father, the Major General Stanley - a comical character who saves his many daughters from capture by the pirates by claiming to be an orphan. In addition, the show is supported by backstage crew of 10 students as well as a very talented set-design team. Pirates of Penzance will be performed March 14th, 15th and 16th and tickets will go on sale the first week in March.