Variety Allows Students to Showcase Talents, Unique Skills

North students showcased their uniqueness and individuality at the Variety Show on Nov. 17 and 18. Students displayed many unique skills including singing, acting, improv, juggling, dancing, and more.

According to director Chad Little, in order to expand the inclusivity of the unique skills that could be shown, the decision to eliminate a distinct theme for the variety show was made, as opposed to the variety show which occurred two years earlier.

Sophomore Anna Osborn who sang “You and Me (But Mostly Me)” from the Broadway musical The Book of Mormon with sophomore Sydney Eikmann, wanted to have a more comedic act in the show, and decided against the song “What is This Feeling?” from Wicked. If the Variety Show had a theme, that may not have been possible.

“[What is This Feeling?] is a lot higher and the parts were a bit more difficult, but we really chose to do the one from The Book of Mormon because it was funnier and when we heard it, we both couldn’t stop laughing,” Osborn also said.

Also, the variety shows put on at North in previous years have had a different structure and were produced by students. According to Little, these shows did not run as smoothly as more recent variety shows which are now overseen by adults.

“There was a previous variety show which was run by students and no adults. People got into the show and never rehearsed, which was chaos, and the production lasted forever. This variety show is more consolidated, and we had tech rehearsals,” Little said.

Once cast in the show, the audition process for performers consisted of meeting with

either Little or choir director Brian Reeves once a week and running through the act. The performers then would receive feedback to help them better perfect their acts.

“The variety show had a lot more independent rehearsal, and we were expected to have a greater responsibility for ourselves and what we had to do. Whereas in a musical, it is more of a group responsibility. There was an independent responsibility with that too, but it was greater with the variety show for me,” Osborn said.

Though the auditioning process may have been slightly nerve wracking for some, past experiences in performing helped to assure some of those who were auditioning of their ability to succeed in their talents.

“Auditioning was a little nerve wracking, but I had confidence that we could be great. I’ve been in theatre in the past at North and I’ve been singing since I was in first grade,” said junior Leah Dolgin, who sang “If I Got You” by Alicia Keys with [junior] Maddie James.

With Thanksgiving coming up this Thursday, North is thankful for all of the unique talents that students have to display, and is proud to display all of the individual abilities that its students have to offer.