COCOLAMUS — Before the switchboards buzz to life, before orders race across the front lines, and before history remembers them as “The Hello Girls,” a group of young women gathers to tell their story.

Starting Thursday night, the East Juniata High School Theatre Program will bring that story to the stage with its 2026 musical, The Hello Girls — a production Director Jacqueline Malocu calls “the most ambitious, meaningful and musically demanding show we’ve ever taken on.”

Based on the true story of the first women to serve in the U.S. Army during World War I, “The Hello Girls” follows the bilingual telephone operators who played a critical role in the American Expeditionary Forces’ success. Their service came two years before women earned the right to vote, making their contributions both groundbreaking and long overlooked.

“I was drawn to this musical the moment I saw it listed in the TRW book of new shows,” Malocu explained. “Then I listened to the soundtrack, and I was hooked. It’s patriotic, it’s powerful, and it honors women whose work changed the course of the war. Performing it during the 250th birthday year of the United States makes it even more special.”

A story of

courage,

friendship and sacrifice

Malocu said she was moved not only by the historical significance of the show, but by the emotional heart of it — the perseverance, the humor, the friendships forged under pressure.

“This story reminds us that dedication can be the difference between mediocrity and greatness,” she said. “It shows how the choices we make ripple outward — to our friends, our families and sometimes even the world.”

The production uses a unique storytelling device: a group of modern-day narrators who frame the action as a shared “story time,” linking contemporary audiences to the voices of the women who stepped forward more than a century ago. Modern Suzanne (Aubrey Fogle), Modern Helen (Bri Brubaker), Modern Bertha (Morgan Ehrisman) and Modern Louise (Kamerin Duffy) guide the audience into the past, where the historical characters take over.

At the center of the story is Grace Banker, played by Adelie Fisher, the poised and determined leader of the Signal Corps operators. Surrounding her are the women who made the unit unforgettable: Suzanne Prevot (Melinda Goodling), the sharp-tongued New Yorker who is Grace’s loyal best friend; Helen Hill (Lily Poorman), the enthusiastic Idaho farm girl; Bertha Hunt (Cali Wagner), the steady “Den Mother”; and Louise Lebreton (Avery Mitchell), the bold and flirtatious French teenager whose confidence often borders on insubordination.

“These girls have stepped into roles that demand maturity, nuance, and stamina,” Malocu said. “The vocals are collegiate-level. The French is challenging. And adding a live pit band this year has pushed us into a whole new tier of production.”

Bringing the signal corps to life

The production also highlights the military figures who shaped the operators’ experience. Gen. John Pershing (Wyatt Burdge) appears as the relentless commander of the American Expeditionary Forces. Lt. Joseph Riser (Rylan Feehrer) is the conscience-driven, rule-bound Signal Corps officer who struggles with his complicated feelings about women in the service. Pvt. Morris (also Burdge) and Pvt. Eugene Matterson (Josh Swartz) add dimension to the soldier-operator dynamic, including Matterson’s flirtatious rapport with Suzanne Prevot.

Other key characters include Agnes (Emma Mattern), a bilingual operator from Groveton, N.H.; Lt. Ernest Wessen (Hannah Book); and Corp. Robert Dempsey (Cohen Apple), a Signal Corps operator serving in Paris.

A large ensemble supports the story as Operators, Doughboys, Lost Boys, the American Expeditionary Forces Battalion and even a German Soldier (Fia Whelpley). The Operators include Annie Fogle, Elsie Brubaker, Joanna Hess, Myrna Trent, Nevaeh Mesmer, and Nichole Higgins with the Moderns, Agnes & Éowyn Rendall,

in a featured operator group performing in both the USA and Paris settings. AEF members are Ava Druckenmiller, Calleigh Reasner, Ella Snyder, Genevieve Symmerman, Kayla Gelnett, Rilee Ogden, Samuel Noel, Shay Smith, Vi Hund, Teagan Burger. Some play Doughboys who bring dance and movement to the wartime atmosphere, while the others double as Lost Boys who portray the somber toll of the conflict.

Behind the scenes, dozens of students in stage crew, lighting, sound, hair, makeup, and costume design shape the look and feel of the production.

“This is a true ensemble show,” Malocu said. “Every student — onstage or backstage — is essential. They’ve taken ownership of this story in a way that makes me incredibly proud.”

A leap of faith — and a hope for full houses

Choosing The Hello Girls was not without risk. It’s a newer title, less familiar to audiences than past East Juniata Theatre productions.

“That’s been the scary part,” Malocu admitted. “We aren’t sure it will draw a crowd the same way our more well-known shows have. But we’re hoping people will be curious enough to come out on opening night — and love it enough to come back.”

She said the cast’s dedication has been unwavering.

“These students have risen to every challenge,” she said. “They’ve worked harder than ever, and they deserve full houses. We want to share this story with everyone.”

Show details and special offers

Performances will be held in the East Juniata High School auditorium:

Thursday, March 5 at 7 p.m.

Friday, March 6 at 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 7 at 3 p.m.

Sunday, March 8 at 3 p.m.

Tickets are available online or at the door. The lobby opens one hour prior to showtime; the house opens 30 minutes before curtain.

Veterans will receive a free ticket at the door on opening night. Online, they may use the code AMERA250 to purchase BOGO tickets at https://ejhstag.ludus.com/index.php. Group rates are available for parties of 10 or more by contacting bsheeler@jcsdk12.org or jhund@jcsdk12.org.

As Malocu put it: “These women changed history. Our students are honoring them, along with all veterans, the best way we know how — by telling their story with heart, courage, and everything they’ve got.”