From Theatre Guild to National Television: AHS Alum Chelsea Frei Stars in “The Paper”

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November 5, 2025
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Janaesa Macasaet || ARTS EDITOR

The studio lights flare, the camera rolls, and Chelsea Frei takes a deep breath before stepping into character as Mare Pritti in The Paper, a spin-off series of The Office. Before that, however, the AHS graduate was performing in the very same Collins Center we know, as part of the Theatre Guild.

The Paper is a mockumentary style sitcom featuring a struggling newspaper in the Midwest being revived by volunteer reporters. The series is now available on Peacock, and is set to premiere on NBC this November. For Frei, the role means getting the once-in-a lifetime chance to spread the same joy she loved in The Office.

“I’ve seen every episode 20 times,” said Frei. “I’m probably the biggest original Office fan, in a really embarrassing way. And that show got me through such hard times…I could just watch it when I was homesick at college [and] when I’m shooting really far away and away from my family…That show means so much to me. And so for me, if our show can do that for people—provide comfort, laughter, and familiarity—I think we’ve won.”

Before landing a Hollywood role, Frei spent her time performing in and around Andover. In her summers, she was a part of Boston Children’s Theatre and the North Shore Music Theatre. At AHS, she performed in the Theatre Guild’s productions all year round. Frei credits Susan Choquette, the Director of Theatre Arts, for inspiring her to pursue professional acting.

“The experience was incredible…I realized I wanted to do it full time,” Frei said. “Ms. Choquette was so supportive when I [said] I [wanted] to audition for colleges and try and get into a BFA program, and she was so helpful throughout that entire process. So I give her so much credit for any success I have in this industry. I mean, she’s really just so special,” said Frei.

After earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Acting from New York University, Frei found a community of supportive actors and created her own creative opportunities. One of her early projects was her Andover Moms podcast, a comedic homage to home that she started for fun, and ended up being a memorable part of her artist profile.

“I did these Andover Mom[s] videos, which are so dumb…I would do them with my camera, with my iPhone and they were just a fun thing me and my mom [liked] to do together. And I think I did five roles on TV and still in every audition I went into, they [said] we saw your Andover Mom[s] videos—those were really funny,” said Frei.

Currently, Frei is writing a script for her own original comedy, a project she has been working on for five years. Whether it be with her own projects or her acting, Frei has found that true fulfillment comes from connecting with others.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re at the top of your field, at the bottom, you’re going to have high highs and really low lows,” said Frei. “And the only way to get through those is having really good people surrounding you and people that believe in you no matter what…When one of my friends succeeds…it’s a win for all of us.”

Despite having been part of numerous works, appearing on national television, and even becoming a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Frei carries the idea that success is not found in accolades but through celebration with those who matter.

“First of all, none of us are going to be successful forever…you have your moments of excitement and you have your moments of failure,” said Frei. At the end of the week, Frei just wanted to be in the car with her dad, talking to him about what happened. “That to me was my greatest moment of success.”

Those small moments remind Frei of why she started acting, and of her time at Andover High.

“I look back right now at my time at AHS, and…thank God. I went through those awkward moments and those hard times and felt like I wasn’t going to make it,” said Frei. “There are these things that make you so self-conscious about doing it. And I’m on the other side of it, [and] I’m like, oh my god, lean in…The best thing you can be is different, truly.”

Andoverview

AHS Class of 2026 Graduation: A Sentiment of Gratitude

June 11, 2026

Abby Chachus & Kendall Murphy || STAFF WRITERS

A hush falls as a sea of navy gowns, a rising tide of Andover High School graduates enters the Tsongas Center just before 5 o’clock on June 1, 2026. There is something distinct about moments like these. A goodbye that is bittersweet among both the audience and the seniors.

According to Graduation Committee member Ella Murphy, it is a goodbye to “Halloween costume competitions that never disappoint, lunches, wrap lines and vending machine trips,” seemingly inconsequential things, but the memories will stick with all of the students as they move on to their future endeavors.

The graduation speakers shared the value of these moments and their gratitude for the people that helped them along the way. As the ceremony commenced, the opening speakers Zachery Pan and Murphy welcomed everyone and encouraged them to acknowledge their shared experiences at Andover High School. “These moments, these memories, these faces. None of us got here alone.” said Pan.

Their speech gave time to deliver some truly meaningful thank you’s, “beyond the formalities” as Murphy put it, to the teachers and staff that showed up each day with “patience, support, and dedication.” Furthermore, they recognized that this gratitude is not solely meant for the significant ceremonies.

“Gratitude is kind of strange. We tend to save it for the big moments. The ceremonies, the stages, the audiences,” said Murphy.

“But let’s be honest—the people who actually changed your life probably weren’t standing on a stage when they did it,” continued Pan.

They concluded the speech with a request to the graduates to thank those who changed their lives in both the big and small moments, even if it feels unnecessary.

Before graduation, other seniors expressed similar thoughts, like reflecting on the journey that got them to where they are today.

“To all my teachers: thank you for everything. I would not be here without any single one of you.” said Christopher Reardon.

Thomas Enman advised underclassmen to “just enjoy every little minute you get at AHS.”

Vignesha Jayakumar, class essayist and valedictorian, echoed this same sentiment of appreciation, reinforcing Reardon’s message about the lasting impact of teachers and support systems. “We were galvanized from a community of supportive teachers and staff who didn’t just teach us subjects, they taught us how to think, how to question, how to care,” said Jayakumar.

He also mentioned the importance of one learning from their fellow graduates. “We learned as much from each other in the hallways and the bleachers as we did in the classroom,” he said.

After Jayakumar, Graduation Committee members Ben Pelt and Kari Belson spoke. First, Pelt announced the Class of 2026’s class gift to AHS. Next, Belson named Scott Armstrong the 2026 Distinguished Citizen (see page 4).

When Principal Jimmy D’Andrea took the stage, he, like all the other speakers, expressed the value of gratitude, a central theme that resonated throughout the ceremony. He began by thanking each group that got each member of the graduating class to where they were standing in the Tsongas Center, about to leave the comfort of being an AHS student and moving onto becoming alumni, highlighting the strong support system and sense of community that defined the graduating class’s journey.

He also encouraged each graduate to “personally reach out and thank those individuals who made a difference in [their] lives,” reinforcing the ceremony’s message of appreciation, reflection, and recognition for the people who helped shape their high school experience.

Interim Superintendent Keith Taverna encouraged graduates to continue to make the community proud with the positive impact they will bring to the world.

To conclude the ceremony, Graduation Committee members Chloe Ahn and Margaret Farabaugh brought everyone together one last time. “Tonight we stand together because of the strong and spirited community we have built,” said Ahn.

Ahn concluded, “As we become graduates of Andover High School, we step into the world with purpose, passion, and pride… Congratulations class of 2026!”

Students, Faculty Travel to Scandinavia Over Spring Break

June 11, 2026

Samin Faiz || STAFF WRITER

Forty-two Andover High School students and seven chaperones visited Scandinavia this April.

After a six-hour flight from Boston to Reykjavík, Iceland, followed by a two-hour flight to Oslo, Norway, the group began their ten-day-long tour the Thursday before spring break. Through a combination of bus rides, overnight ferries, and countless miles on foot, the group made their way through five Northern European countries: Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Estonia.

“I’ve been traveling with students since 2005, so this might be my 17th tour,” said Brian Shea, English teacher, organizer, and chaperone of the trip. “We’ve now done all of Europe, so Northern Europe was sort of our last frontier.”

Apart from the chaperones, the group was accompanied by a tour director named Yulia, whom Shea worked closely with to structure the daily itinerary and ensure a smooth trip.

In Scandinavia, English is widely spoken, so the language barrier was never a problem for the group. Sometimes, however, the students made connections in ways that transcend the spoken word.

“I played soccer with a bunch of people in Sweden,” recalled Hannah Arnold, a junior who participated in the trip. “That was probably the highlight of the trip for me.”

Arnold is no stranger to international travel. Just two months earlier, in fact, she joined her classmates on another school trip to Peru over winter break. However, for her twin sister, Grace Arnold, this was a brand-new experience.

“I met a lot of new people that I’ve never met before, especially people not in my grade,” Grace said. “It was really nice because I met a lot of great people through that and got to spend time with people I wouldn’t usually get to spend time with.”

The trip offered a flexible balance of group tours and independent exploration. “We had a lot of free time,” Grace noted. “We got to explore cities on our own and shop where we wanted. As long as you stayed in groups of three or more, you were free to roam the city.”

Students observed the region’s distinct economic models. Through agreements within the European Union and the Nordic Council, higher education is heavily subsidized or entirely free for regional citizens.

“It’s really interesting. They tax wealthier people a lot more and their overall tax rates are a lot higher,” one student observed. “The way they reinvest money back into infrastructure contributes to stronger public infrastructure. Education and health care are free, and they even offer stipends to cover the cost of living. Essentially, you pay a lot of taxes, but you get a lot in return.”

Students also noticed the societal impact of these safety nets. “Their unhoused population is significantly lower. If you want help, those systems are available to support you.”

The travelers’ curiosity and maturity left a strong impression on the faculty.

“These kids were wonderful,” said Shea. “All of the students were engaged. They were paying attention. They were enjoying it. They were wonderful travelers. To me, that was the biggest thrill.”

With the preparations for next year’s destinations already underway, the future of travel programs at AHS seems to be brimming with opportunities.

“Next year, we have two tours,” said Shea. “We’re running one tour to Barcelona and Madrid in February, and then we’re running another tour to Greece in April.”

Such opportunities are often highly selective at other schools, but luckily, these trips remain open to the entire student body at AHS.

“There’s no application process,” Shea emphasized. “We’re not looking at grades. We’re not looking at behavioral records. Anybody can sign up when we offer these tours. I put them out there, and I’m like, ‘If you want to go, come.’”

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From Theatre Guild to National Television: AHS Alum Chelsea Frei Stars in “The Paper”

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