The shows will go on. Newtown High School is readying not one, but two spring musicals.

NHS Choral Director Jane Matson is directing and choreographing both productions. When it came time to think about this year’s production, Matson said every option she thought of for the normal single spring musical would have meant the bulk of students would not be able to be involved this year due to pandemic safety precautions.

So she began thinking about other ways to get as many students involved as possible.

“And at the end of the day, I thought, I’m just going to do two shows,” Matson said.

So they are.

Freshmen and sophomores are readying Godspell to stream online for audiences on April 23 at 7 pm, and juniors and seniors are preparing The Mystery of Edwin Drood to stream online for audiences on May 28 at 7 pm. The dates may change, due to the ongoing pandemic, but those are the currently planned dates. Tickets will be available to purchase online when available and will give the purchaser a streaming pass to watch the performances online. There will be no in-person audience performances for either show.

Both musicals are rehearsing at the same time, though with students not all together. Masks, spacing, and other precautions are followed at all times.

“The biggest thing this year is that we are rolling with what happens,” Matson said about the projected streaming performance dates.

Both shows have smaller casts and production crews than the high school’s typical spring musical.

“Choosing to do two musicals meant that I could maintain social distancing in rehearsals and performances, while still giving opportunities to as many students as possible,” Matson said in a recent e-mail. “We have two small casts, less than 25 in each, allowing us to work safely.”

Matson oversaw blocking for Godspell on March 15, with students rehearsing in the school’s cafetorium. Everyone wore masks and hand sanitizer was at the ready. As Matson walked across the large space, students followed her lead to learn where to enter, stand, and deliver their lines and sing songs.

“I’m just thrilled that the kids get to do something, and I am going to be very diligent that we are following all of the guidelines,” said Matson in a recent phone interview.

Ingersoll Auto of Danbury is the main sponsor for both musicals this year, according to Matson.

Along with Matson other production crew members include musical director Anna Demasi, technical director Brian Tenney, producers Alysia Caffrey, Tegan Famiglietti, and Janice Gabriel, pit rehearsal director Kurt Eckhardt, and Marie Armstrong overseeing costumes. The show would not be possible without the support of Newtown Public Schools Director of Visual and Performing Arts and NHS Orchestra Director Michelle Hiscavich; the high school’s administrators, custodians, and central office staff; Todd Ingersoll and Ingersoll Automotive; and the NHS Choral Parents group.

A full list of students involved with both productions will be shared ahead of the musicals.

After last year’s spring musical was derailed by the pandemic, Matson said the students are thrilled.

“They are really happy to be doing something. They are happy to be working. They are happy to be creating,” Matson observed.