Anyone who ducks their head inside Arrowhead High School’s “broadway hallway,” will hear a chorus singing in unison or choreographed footsteps by the Broadway Company. The school’s prestigious drama department practices five days a week, sometimes more, for whatever’s on their agenda.

Broadway Company is known for their impressive fall and winter season shows such as Oklahoma, A Christmas Carol, and the latest debut, Hello Dolly. However, with Hello Dolly’s curtain closing for the final time Saturday the 24th, many students are at a loss as to what’s next for the Broadway Company.

“Broadway Company is sort of isolated from the rest of the school, so I have no idea what they’re up to next,” says senior at Arrowhead, Connor Schanen. “They’re a hard working group, I know some of the people that are in it, but I don’t know what goes on there.”

Many students outside of Broadway Company are unsure of what actually goes on in the “broadway hallway,” once the big show is done. But the members haven’t stopped to rest. Not even a week after the final curtain call for Hello Dolly, the company is already working on their next projects.

“After the show ends, Broadway is far from over,” says Broadway Company senior Haley Griffin. “We have various projects throughout the year, including solo projects next week, where we perform for each other and we compliment and critique.”

The company also does an annual Christmas Caroling event, performing for many people including  the homeless, the elderly, and the disabled. “It’s a life changing experience,” says Griffin. “Because to them, we gave them a gift and nothing feels better.”

Of course Broadway Company is still a part of choir, and so often class time in Broadway will be spent rehearsing for choir concerts.

During the spring, however, Broadway Company switches its focus to their spring show, Music Theatre Night. In the past, Music Theatre Night has included several songs and skits from musicals and movies like Les Miserables, Matilda, and even Shrek.  

“Music Theatre Nights seem to be a company and audience favorite,”said Griffin.

Schanen said that he attended Broadway Company’s Music Theatre Night when he was a sophomore. “They did a great job, I remember being surprised that there was a lot of humor in the show and not just a bunch of musical numbers.”

But with so many projects throughout the year, Broadway Company members have more than enough to keep them busy.

“Being in Broadway means being able to budget your time. Whenever we have a break, we always try to squeeze in time for studying and homework. And especially if you have a lead role, there is a lot of memorizing to do,” Griffin says, who played one of the leads in Hello Dolly.  

And while Broadway Company doesn’t hesitate before jumping into their next project, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t an emotional experience to say goodbye to Hello Dolly.

“On closing night,” says Griffin, “the cast always cries on our last show. It’s hard when you work so hard on a project and suddenly it’s done. But it’s kind of bittersweet because suddenly we have more free time to do what we want, and we can look forward to the next BC projects.”

For Griffin especially, who is currently experiencing her last year with the Broadway Company, it is especially emotional.

“At the end of every year, it’s always hard.” she says, “You grow so close with people in different grades you have to let go of and it’s weird, because you feel like you should be graduating with them. This year will definitely be the hardest, because I’m closest with the ones in my grade who I spent all three years with. Broadway is kind of a place we consider home, I’ve made memories and friend which will last a lifetime. I can’t even imagine having to let go of the experience for good. It has given me so much and has improved me as a person, a performer, and gave me confidence and strength.”