Talent Show 2008

One of my absolute favorite nights of the year at St. Agnes is the Talent Show that I somehow managed to inherit. Due to other obligations, it is always thrown together in the spring in far too short of time and without proper equipment or sound capacity, but it always manages to come off.

Despite being put together in only 8 meetings over the course of 3 weeks, and without the benefit of having a real run through, this year's show was the best yet!! The folding chairs in Marist Hall were nearly filled to capacity with a generous and loudly supportive crowd.

We were actually really talented! (You would think that a prerequisite, no? You would be wrong.) Making it even sweeter, all the boys are self-taught musicians and vocalists with very little stage experience. And, we didn't even have any major technical difficulties, usually a staple of the Talent Show.

(Here are some pictures, and if my timing is right, below this post are some YouTube videos from the night.)

My good friend, show co-director, Kevin, helps Michael tune-up his guitar. A musician himself (and an art and religion teacher) Kevin brings the rock and roll to the Talent Show.

Peter is CLASSIC St. Agnes. Currently a sophomore, I first met him the day before his freshman orientation day standing outside of St. Agnes in a full suit. I did the best I could to tell him that he had the wrong first day of school (and that we don't require jackets) and sent him on his way. Nerdy, white, and wonderfully strange, he was on the verge of being let go because he can't ever seem to get his work done. When he emailed me in September to tell me he would be singing a song from the musical "Rent" I nearly died, but he is really, really good. And a crazy bass player as well. Needless to say, Peter is an icon among his peers.

Ah yes, stuck backstage in one of our final "rehearsals", the boys discover where Kate has hidden the old props from the play. Happens every year.

My Ecuadorian twins, Jonathan and Jason, abandon their posts on lights and curtain to try and throw cool Sam off his game. Good thing it was one of our last days to meet before the show.

Dimitri, Mark, and Laurence, choreograph their smooth moves for the show's last act "Stand By Me." (Bowler hats courtesy of Kate and Drama Club)

Performers and Crew--Go Stags!