James Caldwell High School to Present Puffs

James Caldwell High School will present Puffs, a playful parody of the popular Harry Potter series, as its fall theatrical production.

Puffs will be the first show inside the school’s Center for the Performing Arts since the fall of 2019.

“It's simply the best. Nothing beats the experience of real, live theatre,” said Greg Paradis, JCHS drama teacher and theatre program director.

The play follows a group of Puffs, underdogs who attend a certain school of magic alongside the famous trio from the books, and humorously chronicles their coming-of-age experiences in a fast-paced, magical world.

“Along the way, we meet parodies of the iconic characters we know and love from the books and films. It's funny, lively, joyous, and definitely heart-felt,” Paradis said.

The challenges of the past year and a half inspired Paradis to choose a more lighthearted show for the return to the indoor stage.

“We need comedy more than ever,” he said, adding that the play’s engagement with pop culture and intrinsic themes also add to its appeal.

“There's so much we can learn from these characters about love, friendship, empathy, and social responsibility, not to mention the incredible humor derived from parodying such iconic film performances,” said Paradis. “Harry Potter is such a ubiquitous part of our culture, especially now that the generation of people who grew up with the books are now introducing it to their own children.”

Puffs features a cast of 20 actors and includes about 30 stage crew members, all JCHS students. Expect special effects such as fog and strobe lights, as well as giant puppets and magic spells and potions at work. Guests are encouraged to come in costume.

“The show does involve some audience interaction so come ready to have fun,” said Paradis, adding that audience members ranging from adults to children as young as 8 years old are sure to enjoy Puffs.

Showtimes for Puffs are as follows: Thursday, November 18, and Friday, November 19, at 7:30 pm; Saturday, November 20, and Sunday, November 21, at 2 pm. There will be limited, assigned seating for each show.
Tickets are $5 each and may be purchased in advance online or at the door. To reserve online, please visit www.Showtix4U.com and search for the Caldwell-West Caldwell School District - you will be able to click on Puffs. Ticket sales will begin on Monday, November 8.