York High School students first to perform musical 'Dogfight'

ELMHURST – Students at York Community High School in Elmhurst are getting the rare opportunity to be the first high school actors to perform the musical "Dogfight," which premiered Thursday and continues through Sunday.

The students also had the special experience of working with the musical's composers, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who are Tony-nominated Broadway composers.

“It’s very unique, and we were really honored that they worked with our students,” said Becky Marianetti, who is co-directing the musical at York.

The composers flew in from New York to do a workshop with the York drama students, Marianetti said. They collaborated with the composers to adapt the script and score for the high school actors.

"Dogfight" takes place the night before John F. Kennedy was assassinated. It is about young Marines about to go off to war and a cruel joke they play on some girls. Marianetti said there is a Vietnam War fight scene that was very emotional for the cast members to watch.

Unlike some other productions, "Dogfight" allowed the students to play characters the same age as them, and they could relate to various themes in the production, such as having to grow up too fast, Marianetti said.

“It’s had a large impact on the way I think of myself,” said Ginny Watson, a senior who plays Rose in the musical, a girl who is extremely excited to go on her first date, only to find out she was asked as part of a joke.

Watson said she could relate to how Rose felt in the story and believes most girls and women also can relate to the theme of learning to accept themselves the way they are.

“Our directors are incredible,” said Watson, who shares the role of Rose with Kaitlin Cadagin.

Chris Knudsen, a junior at York, plays one of the Marines in the production that features 31 cast members.

“I think this play is very influential for teens my age,” Knudsen said.

It has been challenging for Knudsen to play his character, he said, because he has never experienced anything as traumatic as fighting in a war. Community members who are veterans came in to speak with the drama students in order to help prepare them for the production as well.

Since York is the first high school to perform "Dogfight," there were no recordings of other amateur performances to watch, which also was challenging, Knudsen said.

Another major part of the musical deals with the fact the Marines see themselves as “hometown heroes,” and they expect to be greeted the same way as those of their fathers' generation when they returned home.

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If you go

What: York Community High School's "Dogfight"

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday

Where: York Community High School, 355 St. Charles Road, Elmhurst

More info: The show is recommended for ages 13 and older, due to some language and war reenactment. Tickets for this production are reserved and available by emailing yorkdramatickets@gmail.com.