This year’s spring musical once again hit the virtual screens with the Queen-themed play, “We Will Rock You.” Riordan Drama presented covers of hit songs from the legendary rock band, from “Killer Queen,” to “Radio Gaga.”

            Unlike previous plays that were also posted virtually, Riordan Drama Club decided to post their astonishing performance on a website called Booktiklive.com. Riordan students, parents, and faculty members were able to buy stream passes to watch the show on their electronic devices at home.  

Stefania Pierucci, Director of the Spring Musical, was uncertain whether the Drama Club will use Booktiklive.com for future plays. She said, “Although the overall screening was a success, I am not entirely sure I would use this platform again, as it posed quite a few complications. The fact that live theatre is technically not supposed to be ‘captured’ is another factor in itself, and therefore I am not sure it will be allowed for future shows. We were, however, grateful to have had the opportunity to share our work with everyone in the Riordan community, family and friends.”

Throughout the play, there were references and puns about Queen and 20th-century pop culture. Songs from different artists were also mentioned in the play, such as Little Richard’s “Tutti Frutti,” and the Eagles’ “Hotel California.” Galileo Figaro, a fictional character who was played by Daniel Chan ’21, was taken from a lyric from the legendary Queen song “Bohemian Rhapsody.”   

Daniel Chan ‘21, said, “My part was just as difficult as everybody else’s, everyone needed to know their parts with the new addition of a green screen, and ring lights, 2 things that have never been used in a Riordan production before. It was a lot of acting with myself because of our COVID restrictions.” 

He added, “As a performer, I value the connections and lifelong memories that I make with my fellow actors.”

A couple of side characters were named after famous artists who peaked in the 1970s/80s, for example, the Queen of Pop “Madonna” and the Queen of Rock & Roll “Janis Joplin.” A part of the play also recited a portion of Freddie Mercury’s iconic improv performance that happened in Live Aid. In the finale, all actors participated in performing the hype song from Queen “We Will Rock You” at Lindland Theatre, as a way to end the play on a high note.