Footlighters

HHS FOOTLIGHTERS 

is the Hanover High School's Student Theater 

advised by Yuliya Ballou .

We produce three shows a year:

- the fall classic by Shakespeare, Molière or Sophocles. Everyone who auditions receives a part, making it a great opportunity for students to get involved even if they've never acted before. Our recent plays: Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing. This fall it’s: TWELFTH NIGHT or WHAT YOU WILL with original music composed by THE LOBBYISTS, and our wonderful Terry Samwick is back to direct! Associate director is Emma Rose Brooks who directed and choreographed Hadestown: Teen Edition Last school year.  Shows are: OCT. 23-24 at 7PM, OCT 25 at 3PM. Tickets can be purchased  at footlighters.ludus.com.

 

- the winter modern play, with a smaller cast.  We produced I'M FINE by Nina Zakhozhenko in 23-24, then a double-feature Echoes of the Unseen in 24-25.

This year we proudly announce the upcoming winter production, An Enemy Of The People by Henrik Ibsen skillfully adapted for the stage by Jeffrey Hatcher and directed by Martin Mosdal, a 12th grader, with the amazing Amanda Rafuse as his directing mentor. Audiences are invited to join us for public performances: a PREVIEW on Thursday, January 29th at 7 PM, Friday, January 30 (with a talk-back to follow) &  Saturday, January 31 (with a discussion panel to follow) at 7 PM, and February 1st - a matinee at 2pm . Tickets can be purchased at footlighters.ludus.com or at the door. All performances will take place in G. Hemberger Memorial Auditorium at Hanover High School. 

 

Every spring we produce a musical. Everyone who auditions receives a part. Even if you do not think of yourself as a singer or a dancer, we encourage you to audition and come learn with us. Our recent musicals were The Prom! and Mean Girls, HS Version, Hadestown: Teen Edition. We are thrilled to announce that this year's musical is a comedy: ONCE UPON A MATTRESS.  Brycen Nardone will be directing the musical. Sam Empey will be choreographing it along with Anna Trimarco who will be our student-choreographer. Our music director is Jenn Langhus.  Our costumer is August Doughty. The show dates are May 7th-10th, 2026, with the show on the 10th being a matinee.

 Every show has multiple teams:

tech (lights, spotlights, sound, backstage crew), costuming, hair & make up, community engagement (posters, dramaturgy, media presence, program editing, ticket sales, front of house management). Everyone helps with the set.  (We generally work on the set on weekends.) We also welcome parents' help. Theater is a TEAM sport and everyone is welcome on our team to help bring a production to life!​​​​

!!! We encourage you to audition or join other Footlighters teams, learn with us and make new friends. Email Yuliya Ballou, Footligthers’ advisor/producer, at footlighters@dresden.us to sign up for the fall comedy (to audition or be on one of the teams) & find out more about the Footlighters and/or to receive auditions information. We welcome EVERYONE to get involved in many different ways.

Footlighters’ mission is to ensure theater, performance, and the benefits of creativity are available to all HHS students. We believe storytelling is an essential part of the human experience; participating in theater helps us to express what we care about and why, reminding us of who we are and what we can be. Footlighters’ productions are designed to develop skills, explore interests, promote creativity, and build community. With guidance and support from faculty and area professionals, who mentor the students in performance, design, engagement/marketing, and technical skills, our hard-working talented students produce three shows annually.

Email Yuliya Ballou at footlighters@dresden.us to find out how you could get involved with HHS Footlighters. We welcome students, staff, and community members to get involved in many different ways.