High school stages across Westchester, Putnam and Rockland counties will light up this spring with musicals and student-led productions. From large ensemble shows to more intimate performances, local schools are bringing Broadway favorites to life for their communities.
I am a senior at Stony Brook University studying journalism and had the opportunity to serve as a freelance reporter for The Journal News/lohud during my winter break, where I covered high school musical theater across the region.
This reporting includes a regional roundup, highlighting roughly 60 productions staged across the three counties, and a feature story focused on Yorktown High School’s production of “The Wizard of Oz.” This feature takes readers behind the scenes of a production that stands out for its scale and attention to detail, from extensive educational research to the inclusion of a service dog.
Look back at photos of high school musical rehearsals last year in the Lower Hudson Valley.
While the roundup highlights the breadth and variety of student theater in the area, the Yorktown feature offers a closer look at how one school elevated its musical beyond typical high school expectations.
Yorktown’s production incorporates a range of creative elements, including a cabaret featuring former Yorktown alumni held in a cafeteria transformed into the Emerald City. And inside the auditorium, aisles will be decorated as the Yellow Brick Road. One student deepened their understanding of the show’s history by writing a letter to one of the last living cast members from the original 1939 film.
Together, these stories aim to spotlight student creativity and the role that arts programs play in bringing communities together.
Prior to freelancing, I interned at lohud over the summer through the SUNY Institute for Local News, which works to protect and support local journalism. I have also written for outlets including The Statesman, a student-run newspaper, Hamptons.com and MXDWN. I currently intern at WSHU and serve as a teaching assistant for a course titled The Working Newsroom, which produces reporting for local newspapers.
I am a strong advocate for local journalism, particularly at a time when news coverage is often associated with negativity. My goal is to uplift my community through reporting that highlights stories people can actively engage with and be part of. While national and international news often draws widespread attention, my priorities lie in supporting local outlets that amplify voices at risk of going unheard.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Lower Hudson Valley high school musicals put spotlight on creativity
Reporting by Michelle Grisales, Special to The Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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