Bethany Pettigrew and Tricia Benn first met when they danced together on the national tour of "Cats." Now, years later, having both moved to the community, they share a stage again, this time as choreographers of "Big," the 2010 CHS all-school musical, directed by Assistant Principal Michael Healy.

Pettigrew and Benn, who have years of professional dance experience behind them, have collaborated on the CHS musical for 10 years. Each group of students and each play brings particular challenges. "We ask the students to be very professional," explains Pettigrew. "We work with them the way we would work with any kind of professional group."

She notes that the range of performer experience is broad. "We have kids from the Special Dance Company, who have had outside training, alongside those who have never been on stage," she says. "Our job is to make like them all look like seasoned performers by the end."

Though the show is several weeks away, afternoons find the cast and crew already hard at work onstage and in rehearsal rooms. Benn and Pettigrew, who have children in the district schools and have been involved in elementary school productions, such as the Marshall-Jefferson Variety Show, find more familiar faces each year. "We have seen some of these kids grow up," explains Benn. "We become invested in them." 

And the students return the favor, dedicating time and energy to the annual musical. "We expect them to rise up," says Benn. "And they always pull it off." Students perform, build sets, serve as stage crew and even sell ads and tickets. 

"Big" asks a lot of performers and choreographers because, in Pettigrew's words, "We are asking high school kids to be middle schoolers and others to be grownups." Indeed, half the cast plays preteens, while the other half plays adults. At a recent rehearsal, cast members were asked to sing at the top of their registers to mimic young children, while two sophomores introduced themselves—despite wearing hoodies and jeans—as "executives." 

Benn and Pettigrew guide the student performers to show their identity through movement, as it's critical that audience members understand who's "big" and who is not. "We have high schoolers with grown-up physiques," says Pettigrew, "and we're asking some of them to be childlike and more active, or to move with sophistication, in a more inhibited way."

To move correctly, students need to watch closely. "We look to role models in the group," says Pettigrew, "to demonstrate acting choices, character choices, movement choices."

Their role also includes some historic interpretation. "Big" is set in the 1980s— the olden days," laughs Benn—before the Internet. Benn has found herself explaining that the scooters that characters ride in the play aren't the razor scooters of today, and that cell phones were in their infancy. 

"There's lots to look for" in this year's musical, according to Benn. With a younger cast, she points to "ninth grade energy" and a memorable opening number. Like Pettigrew, she comes back year after year to CHS, no matter what the show. "It's a labor of love," says Pettigrew. "It's something we can offer to kids in our community, and it's also a chance for people to see what's happening at the high school. The shows have given people an opportunity to come in, to see how wonderful it is."

"Big" will be performed at CHS on March 12, 13, 19 and 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium. It will also be performed on March 14 and 21 at 2 p.m. For tickets, call Columbia High School at 973-762-5600.