The Harker Conservatory reached a milestone this past weekend, as this year’s spring musical, “42nd Street,” was the first to be held at the Rothschild Performing Arts Center. Set in 1930s New York, “42nd Street” is a classic yarn about showbiz dreams and behind-the-scenes drama, with all the dazzling music and choreography natural to a musical about a musical.

It was also a great choice for the first musical to take place in the new, state-of-the-art Patil Theater, outfitted with a stage large enough to hold what director Laura Lang-Ree termed “the embodiment of the genre.” The complex set pieces and captivating performances drew big audiences, which filled the Patil Theater nearly to capacity for two of the four showings.