“Boonton Takes Broadway”

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Luca Campanelli went from the shadows to the spotlight for the “Boonton Takes Broadway” show.

Campanelli, typically part of the lighting or sound crew, made his debut as a performer on Friday, May 15 singing “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” from “Jersey Boys.”

According to producer/director Mrs. Oliveri, Campanelli was “phenomenal.”

“Luca was so excited during ‘All Shook Up’ and then wanted to audition for a show,” Oliveri said. “It turns out he was a great performer. He was dancing, too. He killed it.”

Being in front of an audience for the first time made Campanelli, who joined drama club while in seventh grade, a bit nervous.

“The weeks leading up to the show I was nervous about forgetting my lines so I just practiced until it was second nature,” he said. “Before my act, my friends gave me words of encouragement and knowing that I had people supporting me on and offstage, I just went for the best that I could in the moment.”

Campanelli, in his own words, tends to have “insane amounts of energy,” so performing seemed like the next logical step in his young theater journey. After receiving encouragement from fellow drama club members Samantha Tracy and Gabe Muniz, he decided to try “Boonton Takes Broadway” for “fun and to get a feel of what stage life is like for the first time.”

The song he sang had no personal meaning for Campanelli. He simply heard it on the radio and in films and chose it because it was in his range.

Dancing was inspired by Campanelli’s desire to capture an audience.

“I have had no experience in the dancing field at all,” he said. “The whole thing was improvised but it felt good to just be whimsical on stage with people I could feel safe with watching me.”

Campanelli is the first in his family to be in drama club. His older sisters, Ornella and Carmella, participated in GSA and were on the Black Team.

The show business bug, apparently, has bitten Campanelli hard. Since he’s already done behind-the-scenes work and now felt the heat of the spotlight, he feels that he’ll continue being a part of theater in the future.

“It was a thrilling experience that I have never truly felt anywhere else and it was marvelous,” Campanelli said. “I am still 50-50 on whether I want to do lighting or not after next year. I want to attempt being a member of the cast. Over my time, I think I could finalize what I want to do for the rest of my high school career.”