Written by Jake Fitzpatrick ’23, Communications Corps
t was all “Blue Skies” and “Happy Holidays” at Xaverian in
November, as the Fine Arts Department premiered the Irving
Berlin musical, Holiday Inn. Under the direction of Ms. Julianne
O’Connor, more than 40 student performers and crew members
marched along to bring the show alive. Students from Montrose
School, Ursuline Academy, Bishop Feehan, Walpole High School,
and Mount Alvernia joined our Xaverian Hawks as singers, dancers,
choreographers, set designers, lighting operators, and more. They
danced and sang to such classics as “White Christmas” and “Cheek-to-
Cheek,” with a talented ensemble and standout leading men and ladies.
Based on the 1942 Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire film, Holiday Inn
centers on Jim Hardy (played by Brian Ladino ’24) who decides a life
HOLIDAY INN WARMS HEARTS
AND DELIGHTS AUDIENCES
in the country is the perfect act two for his New York City showbiz
career as one third of a performing trio (Faye Stearns ’24, Montrose
School and Jonathan Cimino ’25). Hardy buys an old Connecticut
inn only to realize that he misses performing and decides to turn
it into the Holiday Inn, a place where guests can go on holidays to
enjoy a show. And what a show it was here at Xaverian! Though the
numbers were extremely challenging, the ensemble tackled them
with heart, skill, and dedication, making this a musical the Xaverian
community will remember. With a packed theater for each of the
three performances, the actors left the crowds with “nothing more to
say” than standing ovations.
Save the Date for Death of a Salesman on March 24-25!
Pictured here (L-R) are Georgia Kazis ’23 (Ursuline Academy), Thomas Sullivan ’25, Bridget Ryan ’23
(Walpole High School), Rishu Nevatia ’23, Brenna Griffon ’25 (Mount Alvernia)
18 www.xbhs.com