For the last theatrical production of the 2025-2026 school year, Bothell High School put on the musical Anything Goes. The musical was put on by Bothell’s own theater department, and the musical was directed by Chaya Glass, Bothell High School’s own theater teacher. The play took place in the Northshore Performing Arts Center, also known as the NPAC, and I went to the Thursday, April 23rd performance.
The musical takes place in the 1930’s and follows Billy Crocker, played by Jackson Partridge, and his journey sneaking on a cruise ship to find his true love, Hope Harcourt, who was played by Kelsey Polzin. The only issue is that Hope Harcourt is planned to be married to Lord Evelyn Oakleigh, played by Aiden Peter Droney. He faced many challenges along the way, including his boss, Eli Whitney, played by Charles Ottersburg; the Captain and Purser, played by Jack Horman, and Mikey Chiodo, respectively; and the sailors, while also meeting new people along the way, including the gangster Moonface Martin, played by Elijah David Ballard, and Erma LaTour, played by Haizley Stark. Billy’s friend, Evangelist Singer Reno Sweeney, played by Angelina Carranza, also plays an important role in the play as both Billy and Moonface Martin’s friend. Overall, the play is full of fun moments, comedy, and an enticing story that had me hooked.
The acting and choreography in this play were top-class. The different actions, lines, and dance moves were delivered perfectly. This was due to lots of effort from our great Cougar actors! On the musical side of things, the singing was done so perfectly that I could feel every note, and as someone who doesn’t know much about the musical side of musical theater, they did such a great job, and I was so impressed! Some of my favorite songs included Blow Gabriel Blow, Anything Goes, and Be Like the Blue Bird.
The technical aspects of the play were also high quality. The set, produced and built by BHS’s own Technical Theater classes and volunteer work, was a gargantuan double-decker that encapsulated the set of a cruise ship perfectly. The costumes were also well done, leading to the set matching the various costumes worn on stage, which is always the best! Some other small scenes, such as the prison and bar, were also well illustrated and flowed well, mostly due to the excellent stage managers and stage crew (Shoutout to Meadow, Maia, and Ginger :D).
Overall, the musical Anything Goes is a good musical with the perfect mix of laughs, story, and singing. As always, the community with these shows is so great, as I was serenaded with thanks from the whole cast and technical crew promptly after the show ended. I adored this show, and I am one to give it 4.75/5 stars. But that doesn’t really matter at the end of the day, as the community and skill that was shown by our BHS theater department tops any possible star rating.
Sadly, the show ended its run a while ago, so you can’t see it now. But stay tuned for the BHS Senior Showcase and other Bothell theater events next year!
