I
n February, Fox Chapel Area grads
Jenna Hayes and Will Docimo shared
the stage for the first time since high
school in Stage Right’s production of
“The Last Five Years.”
“Will was a senior when I was a
freshman at Fox Chapel Area High
School, and he landed the male lead in
‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ while I was
a tap flapper dancer in the show,” says
Hayes.
“I was honored to play the lead, but I’m
pretty sure it was because it was the only
role that didn’t have to tap dance,” laughs
Docimo. “Jenna is a great dancer. I am an
enthusiastic dancer, but they usually put
me in the back.”
“‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ was the
most fun show I had ever been a part of—
until I was cast in ‘The Last Five Years’ of
course!” adds Hayes.
Both performers were active in theater
during high school. Hayes sang in every
choir—even conducting the ninth grade
treble ensemble her senior year—danced
in musicals all four years, and has a love
for writing. Docimo was also part of
several choral ensembles in addition to
school musicals.
Today, the two do their best to keep up
with their passion for performing while
taking part in other avenues of life. Hayes,
26, currently lives in Shadyside and is
newly engaged to her fiancé Lucas, also a
musician. She has a Bachelor of Science
in Music Education, Pre-K through 12,
from Duquesne University. Docimo,
29, still lives in O’Hara Township, now
with his wife, Phoebe Handler. He’s
studying for his doctorate in Accounting
at the University of Pittsburgh and
has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in
accounting from Notre Dame.
Hayes cultivated her passion for dance
at a very young age, taking tap, ballet,
gymnastics, and jazz and competing as
an Irish dancer. Later, she directed her
passions toward the more traditional
musical theater venue, pursuing private
voice lessons and performing in some of
the professional shows with Pittsburgh
Musical Theater.
Docimo, on the other hand, stumbled
into his passion for musical theater almost
by accident. “My older sister, Katherine, is
an incredible performer and loves musical
theater, and my mom had a rule that at
least two kids had to do every activity,” he
says. “So I got dragged along to an after-
school theater program, and I’ve loved
musical theater ever since.”
Both found their way to Stage Right
and have performed in several shows
over the past few years. Hayes is the
organization’s current vice president and
educational director, and has been stage-
managing shows for the last two-and-a-
half years.
“‘The Last Five Years’ is the story of
a real doomed relationship, with all of
the peaks and valleys that come along
with it—it’s funny, romantic and tragic,
sometimes all within the same song,”
says Docimo, who played the character
Jamie Wellerstein—a writer who
falls in love right before experiencing
enormous success with his first novel.
“He’s certainly self-centered, but lives life
with passion,” continues Docimo. “I was
lucky to perform with someone as gifted
as Jenna—it made the process so easy,
once I got over being intimidated by her
ability.”
Hayes played the other character in
the two-person musical by Jason Robert
Brown—Cathy Hiatt, a struggling actress
who moved to New York City and falls
in love with a young, talented and soon-
to-be famous author. “Being able to star
opposite Will was very humbling because
he’s older and is full of talent.”
The show ran for three sold-out
performances at Aspinwall Riverfront
Park.
Both Hayes and Docimo encourage
people who love musical theater and
performing to pursue it in whatever
capacity they can. “Don’t worry if you
can’t commit to being a performer full
time,” says Hayes. “Sometimes it’s better
to have music, dance and acting become
a side part of your existence so they don’t
overwhelm or discourage. I’m grateful to
Stage Right for giving me a place where I
can perform as well as teach other young
people the joys of performing.”
“As a non-artist myself, my only advice
is to take advantage of whatever artistic
outlets you can,” adds Docimo. “I really
enjoy that I can participate in great local
theater despite a busy schedule.” ■
FOX CHAPEL AREA
❘
SPRING 2019
37