The Hillcrest musical, “Give My Regards to Broadway,” is ready for a live audience.

Under the direction of drama teacher Mark Gideon, vocal music teacher Debbie Futrell and orchestra teacher Lisa Fent, the curtain goes up at 7:30 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, and at 2;30 Sunday for a final matinee.

Students have been rehearsing for weeks, and put on a special performance Wednesday morning for senior citizens.

Senior Jessica Larson is part of the cast.  She said while it has been tiring getting ready for the show, it will be worth it.

“It is going to be a great musical, and we hope a lot of students and others will come see it,” said Larson.

The hot chocolate will be flowing Friday morning as the Hillcrest Cabinet continues its new tradition of serving beverages on the first Friday of each month.

Temperatures have been in the 50s and 60s this week in Springfield, and that is not necessarily the kind of weather associated with hot chocolate.

“The hot chocolate social we did in the fall went over really well.  We think this will be great,” said Student Body President Sarah Thomas.

Money for the beverages comes from the Cabinet account, which has funds from school dances and fundraisers to help cover efforts like this for the student body.

The Cabinet will be serving in the Student Center, just inside the main entrance to the building, from 7:30 until the first bell.

Dorial Green-Beckham announced his decision to attend the University of Missouri-Columbia Wednesday morning at Hillcrest.

The nation’s top high school football recruit made the announcement at 9:15 a.m. to a supportive audience in the Hillcrest gymnasium, surrounded by Hornet teammates, city officials, district officials, and the Beckham family.

The star receiver was trending worldwide on Twitter within minutes of his announcement.  Before today, many experts had picked Arkansas as his most likely choice.

John Beckham, Dorial’s father and the HHS football coach, told KY3, “He just felt more comfortable with the Missouri coaching staff.”

Dorial Green-Beckham, the national record holder for receiving yards, will draw the national spotlight to Hillcrest Wednesday morning.

At 9:15 a.m., after months of frantic recruiting by college coaches, and weeks of speculation on websites and Twitter, Green-Beckham will end the guessing game and announce his college choice.

Students will join family and teammates to hear the announcement, which will be carried live by ESPNU, followed by a 9:30 a.m. press conference after students return to class.

“It’s pretty exciting to think we will get all that media attention. I’m sure it’s been a crazy time for Dorial,” said junior Breanna Feemster.

Reporter Mitch Sherman from ESPN.com, and a crew from KY3 in Springfield, plus a reporter from the News-Leader were at Hillcrest on Tuesday gathering material for what will be a busy day of coverage.

A reception for Green-Beckham and invited guests will be held in the Hillcrest library after the press conference.

The second dance of the school year took place Friday evening.

Traditionally called “LPA,” or “Ladies-Pay-All,” it was re-named “Courtwarming” with the theme of “Starstruck,” which was reflected by the decorations. Senior Nick Nutting was crowned King of this first-ever Courtwarming.

“We had over 200 people attend,” said Cabinet Publicity Coordinator Jodie Putman.

Along with a new name for the dance, there was a new location as well.

“We had the dance in the HHS Student Center rather than the East Gym,” said Putman. “I think everyone really enjoyed themselves and liked having it in the Student Center.”

Although the students seemed to like the new location, administration faced some challenges.

“It made it hard to check students into the dance. It was dark, loud, and we were surrounded by the dance,” said Coordinator of Site Interventions Melissa Allen.

Hillcrest senior Dorial Green-Beckham is close to selecting his college, and the five schools still in the running for his services are making last-minute pitches.

On Wednesday Missouri Tiger coaches arrived in a large Mizzou bus, featuring the logo of the SEC, the conference the team will compete in beginning next season.

Coaches from Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama and Arkansas are also staying in close contact as the recruiting season winds down.  Those four schools, plus Mizzou, will anxiously await Green-Beckham’s final choice, which will be announced next Wednesday morning at Hillcrest.

Plans have changed several times in recent days, but the final decision was made to have a school-wide assembly celebrating the announcement.  Students and other invited guests, plus plenty of local and national media will be on hand for the 9 a.m. event.

Hillcrest Speech and Debate members are taking their talents to feeder middle schools later in the week. They plan on informing students all about what the Speech department offers at HHS.

During the visit, middle schoolers will learn about the different types of Speech and Debate, from humorous interpretations to public forum debate.

“Speech and Debate has been a great experience and an educational one as well. I am eager to talk to these students so that I can pass on my knowledge, so that Speech and Debate may continue,” said senior Speech student Nicholas Nutting.

Students will also get the chance to watch performances put on by members of Speech team. All of this is being done in hopes to recruiting future Hornets to join the team.