Huntley High Students to Perform Jersey Boys Hits at Sun City

Huntley High School junior Dylan Ladd is spending his winter break tending to show business.

As a vocalist and the founder of Project Two, a local musical group dedicated to Broadway hits, Dylan is promoting their Tuesday, Jan. 10, performance at Sun City Del Webb. Special guest John Michael Coppola, a former member of Jersey Boys Chicago cast, will take the stage, too, Dylan said. The show, coordinated by Sun City Community Association of Huntley, starts at 7 p.m.

“He’s actually going to sing a couple of songs with us, and we are so honored,” he explained. Other Huntley High School performers in Project Two are vocalist Tyler Darnell, a junior; vocalist and guitarist Chris Aceron, a senior; vocalist Chris O’Meara, a senior; vocalist Shaquon Howard, a junior; vocalist Ashley Knipp, a junior; vocalist Abby Gleason, a junior; and vocalist/pianist Diana Pazyga, a junior. Band members are drummer Greg Guelzo, a junior; bass guitarist Vickie Choin, a junior; alto saxophonist Andrew Rewerts, a junior; trumpeter Adam Sundling, a sophomore; trombonist Charlotte Skala, also a sophomore; and Northern Illinois University freshman Harry Choin, a tenor saxophonist.

Dylan teaches the music, organizes the band, and coordinates the performances. He said the group’s break came last September when it was hired for Huntley Fall Fest. They sang the music of Jersey Boys, Hairspray and Wicked.

“It was our first paying gig,” he said. “We’re pretty excited.”

That also was the month when the Sun City date came through, and Dylan is working hard to make sure tickets sell. Sixty were sold the first day the performance was confirmed, he said, and since then, sales have tripled. Pre-concert tickets are $8 for Sun City residents and $13 for nonresidents. At the door, tickets will cost an additional $5.

Dylan said members of the group has been rehearsing three or four times a week and has been focusing on perfecting their harmonies.

“It’s really working out for us because now we have all the sheet music,” said Dylan, adding that when he first starting performing Broadway songs years ago, the harmonizing was sometimes impromptu.

With a fresh professional publicity photo and hours of rehearsal, Project Two members are marketing the show in as many online vehicles as possible.

“This is going to be our biggest audience yet,” Dylan said. “It’s going to be an amazing night.”

Visit Sun City Community Association of Huntley to purchase tickets online or call 1-847-515-7650.