'Fame The Musical' connects Hempfield students from opposite sides of the state

More than 200 miles separate Hempfield Area High School in Westmoreland County from Hempfield High School in Lancaster County.

This year, however, the schools will be but a mouse click apart and students are sharing more than a name.

Young thespians from both schools are rehearsing for performances of “Fame The Musical” and connected over the weekend to discuss differences in their shows while talking with cast members who are playing the same roles.

“They’re all so talented over there and I would like to say that my group of friends is also really talented. There’s no comparing who’s better, but it’s just like comparing how we’re doing things differently and stuff like that,” said Hempfield Area junior Giavanna Marino, 17, who is playing Carmen Diaz in the production.

“I just think it’s such a cool experience to get to talk to these people who are from the other side (of the state) and doing the same thing,” she said.

Students first connected Saturday evening after Hempfield High School junior Hunter Smith reached out to local students via social media. After talking through direct messages, both casts set up a video chat over the app Snapchat.

As rehearsals continued, students sent videos of their sets and numbers to compare. Marino noted the casts swapped ideas of how to change words in the musical that are inappropriate for high school productions while also showing each other their theaters.

“It’s already crazy that we have the same name, it’s ironic we’re in the same state, but to be doing to same show and to be able to share how we are playing the character compared to how they are and how we are internalizing the scenes — it’s just awesome, especially when we can’t see them face-to-face,” Smith said.

Students, who continue to talk almost every day, are planning to watch each other’s shows. Both shows will be streamed this year because of covid-19 restrictions.

Hempfield Area’s show starts Thursday at 7 p.m. and runs through Saturday. Tickets can be purchased on the district’s website.

Tony Marino, Hempfield Area’s director and Giavanna’s father, said that given capacity limits put in place due to the pandemic, 234 people will be permitted in the auditorium for shows. The show will be livestreamed for people unable to attend in person, which can be viewed for free.

Marino, owner of the Greensburg-based Stage Right School for the Performing Arts, said he is not surprised another school is performing “Fame” due to the ease of keeping students socially distanced and the fact the show is centered around high school students.

“We’re learning so much about them and it’s so cool to get the opportunity to learn about a whole different group of people from the other side of Pa. who are doing the same show as you,” Giavanna Marino said. “It’s like they’re our doppelgangers. It’s just so weird.”