Last Thursday and Friday in Rochester High School’s Auditorium approximately 85 students from all classes with different levels of acting and dancing experience gathered after school for auditions for the RHS production of the 2008 Tony Award-winning musical, In the Heights, to take place in later November.

“I am ready to finally get the process all started,” director Mr. Frank Gollon said. “The show was announced last June, so people have been waiting all summer for auditions and we’ve been gearing up.”

Upon seeing many new faces at auditions, Gollon hopes to grab the attention of crowds of students that typically do not attend the fall musical.

“I would like to try to find some of the newer [musicals] that will appeal to a broader range of students,” Gollon said. “The music style in this show has more of a Latin feel; some people will rap in it and some breakdancing.”

With the new challenges of bringing modern teenage pop culture to the stage, Gollon is not concerned, but rather excited for the long days and hard work approaching soon.

“One of the reasons that I love what I do is just to work with these talented people”, Gollon said. “I hope the students continue to bring the amazing talent and energy and enthusiasm that I have been fortunate enough to see year after year here.”