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The history of our high school's theatrical production begins in 1952 with plays being staged by The Dramatics Club of Arabi High School. Arabi High School eventually became Chalmette High School, the Dramatic Club became the Drama Club, and the tradition of a spring play continued until 1975.
Chalmette High School Live was founded in 1982. However, the real story behind the forming of the organization, more commonly known as CHS Live, begins the year before. In 1981 two Chalmette High staff members, Jill Hitchins and Cheryl Mollere took a chance. They decided to see if there was enough student interest in performing a play. Thae play chosen was an original local musical written by former CHS faculty member John McCotter called Godzilla vs. Rocky & Carlos. Hitchins and Mollere secured the services of Patricia Babin to handle the music and vocals for Godzilla. To the pleasant suprise of everyone involved, the show was a huge hit. Almost immediately after it closed, Hitchins and Mollere began laying the groundwork for the formation of a drama club at Chalmette High School. The mission of the club would be to perform a minimum of one theatrical production a year. In the Spring of 1982, CHS Live became a reality when the theatrical troop presented its inaugural production of M.A.S.H., a play based on the hit movie and television series. CHS Live returned to the musical genre in 1983 with Bye Bye Birdie. This show would once again team Hitchins and Mollere and musical and vocal expert Patricia Babin. The three would remain together until 1987, which marked the departure of both Jill Hitchins and Cheryl Mollere from the CHS faculty. CHS Live was now under the sole leadership of Pat Babin. In 1993 she was joined by Jimmy Hebert who, although experienced in theater himself, became the brains and talent creating the physicasl sets for CHS Live productions. Today, 21 years since its inception, CHS Live remains under the remarkable direction of Babin. With the exception of a few years when the theater was dark(no performances), CHS Live has not wavered from its mission to perform a minimum of one quality theatrical performance a year. In 1998 Monique Wales joined Pat Babin. 1999 brought english teacher and experienced actor Tom Dugger. Two years later, 2001, added stage manager Roy Cuccullu, and Sharlene Jones from the faculty. Unfortunately Mrs. Wales is no longer with CHS Live, and Sharlene Jones has retired from Chalmette High School. Pat Babin, her "helpers", and the talented students, together, make CHS Live one of the most respected high school theater programs in the state.
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