Things will be a little different this year when the curtains open on Powell High School’s spring musical. Rather than opt for more comedic fare, the club will be shedding light on a pair of historical outlaws with “Bonnie and Clyde.”

This year the musical serves not only as the final run for the 2024-2025 seniors but the last year for director Jeff Greaham and his wife and assistant director Christi Greaham. 

“It has been very rewarding for both Mrs. Greaham and I and we will always value our time spent with Powell’s fine young actors and actresses,” Jeff Greaham said. 

This will also be the first time seniors Paul Cox and Jenessa Polson have been in the position to play the leads.

“We’re in a position we’ve never been in. We’re doing a show that’s totally different. We have a lot more set stuff going on,” Cox said. “We’ve got a lot more [of] just everything — songs and all that. It’s high pressure, but it’s also very exciting, very, very exciting”

Junior Justin Dusenberry will also be taking the stage as Clyde’s brother Buck, a member of the main cast for the first time. 

“Theater has become one of the most important things in my life, it’s what I want to do as a career now,” Dusenberry said. “I love everything about theater, so I’m very excited to put on the show. I think it’s a great show. I think our cast is very strong this year. We’re going to put on a really good performance.”

The decision to perform “Bonnie and Clyde” was based on the students in the cast, Greaham said, while also noting the strength of the story.

“At the height of the Great Depression, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow went from two small-town nobodies in West Texas to America’s most renowned folk heroes and Texas law enforcement’s worst nightmares,” the play’s synopsis reads. “Fearless, shameless and alluring, the Tony-nominated “Bonnie & Clyde,” from the legendary Frank Wildhorn (“Jekyll & Hyde,” “Civil War,” “Dracula”) is the electrifying story of love, adventure and crime that captured the attention of an entire country.”

The set is also larger than they’ve had in years, said senior JJ Gardener, who plays Trish, and junior Elaina Kousolos, who play’s Buck’s wife Blanche.

“We are now just finally getting all of our set pieces and our props and everything, which comes with a big learning curve, because somebody has to move those,” Cox said. “The set is huge, we have to practice a lot. It’s like one of those simple things, but, you know, we’re running low on time. We just have to figure things out, and repetition is the key.”

The play has great music, he added, its rockabilly, rock and roll and jazz aspects are unique for a Broadway soundtrack.

“I think it’s really cool for the school to do it and just get that different repertoire in, especially for us seniors who have just done the same style of show,” Gardener said.

Leaving Powell High with a different kind of performance is like “going out with a bang,” said Polson, who plays Bonnie.

Outside of those acting, it’s also all hands on deck for the technical crew.

Senior Brenna Henderson has been the club’s stage tech since she was a freshman, and she’s particularly excited for this year.

“I am super excited for it. This is one of our best sets we have ever had, and I am excited for our leaders who stepped up this year. And it being my senior year, I feel like I’m able to go all out,” Henderson said. “I see a lot of potential in this. I’m excited for it.”

Henderson is working with a new sound program that is easier to work with and allows her to be more hands on and have constant involvement throughout the course of the play.

Working both behind the scenes and on stage is senior Caitlin Belmont. Belmont, a member of Powell High School’s state champion dance team, was asked to choreograph the musical while also acting in the play. 

“They gave me the opportunity this year to be the choreographer for this musical,” she said. “I’ve had a lot of fun being able to work with everybody on that level and having a different dynamic than I normally do.”

Also trying his hand at something new is senior Toby Sessions, who decided to join the drama club during his final semester at Powell High. Sessions was recruited by Cox who thought he could be useful backstage operating the set — Sessions was also able to get in on one dance season.

“This has been a really awesome experience so far. I think it’s really well run, full of great people and I’m enjoying every minute of it,” Sessions said. 

For those who want to go check out the high school’s production of “Bonnie and Clyde” there will be 7 p.m. showing on Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for students. Tickets are available at the door or via QR code on the production poster.