With the addition of the student-made set, the recent McHenry Community High School production of “9 to 5: The Musical” was truly an all-student creation.
The 2026 spring musical marks the first time construction students had a hand in building and assembling the set designed to look like an office. “9 to 5: The Musical” is based on the classic 1980 story about three female coworkers who devise a plan to get back at their sexist and egotistical boss.
As drama students prepared for their roles, construction students took measurements of the stage in the Upper Campus auditorium, and got to work. The wooden set is built to resemble an office, complete with doors and windows. The wallpaper is actually vinyl sheets made by graphics students.
Then students installed the set and secured it on the stage. The result is an office-like setting with doors that was seen by theatergoers who caught the production March 5-7 and March 13-14.
“I felt like it was nice to be connected to the community,” said Lilliana Rasmussen, a junior construction student who plans to become an electrician and maybe a teacher. “This class is really fun.”
This special project, which construction students hope to continue, also required students to pick up some important new skills.
“It’s a different kind of project for these students, who may not have experience building scenery,” said Andrew Hillier, French and theatre instructor. “They must build to the specs required by me as a director and also what is specified in the script. It’s a collaborative process.”
Building the set for the student musical may be new for construction students, but building things for the community is not. Industrial Technology Instructor Dan Rohman said students are building sheds that are eventually sold to the community.
Construction students also played a large part in the McHenry Riverwalk Tiny Shoppes since they started building the frames for the 10 small shop spaces. With the help of other volunteers, students finished the shops, which opened in 2023.
In 2018, McHenry High School construction students also built a small house used for Santa visits for McHenry’s annual holiday events.
“We usually try to pick up various projects,” Rohman said.
