Katie Rochon
Teachers and staff in the Hopewell Valley Regional School District not only can deliver a classroom lesson, but many of them can sing, dance and play a bevy of instruments.
Proof will come at the Faculty Musicale at the Hopewell Valley Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29.
More than 40 faculty and staff members from all six of the district’s schools will dance, sing and rock the stage.
Sponsored by the Hopewell Valley Central High School Music and Theater Parents Association, all proceeds support district arts programs.
General admission is sold ahead of time at www.Showtix4u.com at $8 for students and $12 for adults. Tickets will be sold at the door at $10 for students and $15 for adults.
“I’m thrilled that the faculty and staff are willing to reveal and share their inner talents and passions to students, co-workers and the community,” said Peter Griffin, district supervisor of visual and performing arts. “I’m always grateful to our faculty and staff performers for giving of their time for this worthy fundraiser that benefits all of our students in our district’s performing arts programs.”
The programs in years past have included classical pieces, jazz, folk and show tunes, as well as rock and movie soundtrack numbers.
Faculty slated to appear include more than 20 performers from Bear Tavern’s staff. Also appearing, among others will be Michele Alford from Hopewell Elementary, Amy Hail from Stony Brook, Scott Stuhlmuller from Timberlane and Katie Rochon, the high school director of performing arts.
Ms. Rochon recently came to the high school after three years at Timberlane Middle School, where she directed the school’s musicals, including “Into the Woods” in 2015. Last fall, she directed the high school’s rendition of “Dracula,” and this winter she will bring “Pippin” to the high school stage.
Ms. Rochon has more than a decade of professional acting and singing experience in New York City, and she performed for several years as a principal singer on Norwegian Cruise Lines.
Joining Ms. Rochon on stage will be the district’s new director of dance, Gabrielle Kadets. The two will do a duet called “Nowadays/Hot Honey Rag” from the musical “Chicago.” Ms. Rochon will also perform Duke Ellington’s “2&4/Hit me With a Hot Note“ with Randy White, the district’s director of choirs.
