On the evening of Wednesday, February 7, the auditorium of Old Rochester Regional High School was filled with students, parents, teachers, and faculty. The community gathered to support some of their brave and talented friends who took the stage with song and dance to raise money for the Class of 2013 spring semi-formal in the form of a Talent Show.
The show was one of the bigger fundraisers organized by the Class of 2013, with most of the work being done directly by the class officers. Vice President Michaela Riggi of Marion said that keeping everything organized was the most difficult aspect of the planning. The officers took care of everything, from creating the program to collecting the entry fees paid by the acts. But despite the work, she remained hopeful for her performing peers and humble about her role. “I’m really excited. I feel like people will be really impressed with all the acts,” Riggi said.
Class secretary Erin Murphy from Rochester, was very thankful for all the volunteers and donors who made the night possible.
“It’s been fun to see all the people come out and to see the people who had talent. We’re really glad for everyone, from the parents, our advisors, AMC Dartmouth who donated the popcorn, and [drama director] Paul Sardinha,” Murphy said.
Sardinha assisted the students in organizing equipment and transitioning from act to act. “It went brilliantly. There was great audience attendance,” he said after the show as he congratulated the students backstage.
About six weeks ago, the class officers were discussing fundraising ideas, and they decided to organize a talent show. Jeannette Raposa, advisor to the Class of 2013, said she had very little direct involvement with the planning process, but offered her guidance from the sidelines.
“This is their baby,” Raposa said.
Raposa was excited about the idea of a talent show because it offered the students and faculty the opportunity to see their friends and peers in a new context.
“I want the students to be seen in a different light. We always see them in an academic setting. It’s a good way to showcase the many talented students we have here,” said Raposa.
Talent show judge and chemistry teacher Erin Sullivan was looking forward to seeing a new side of some students whom she did not expect to see in the program. Fellow judge and English teacher Randy Allain, who graduated from ORRHS, did not see many of his own students on stage, but wanted to help out to support the school.
“I like seeing the kids have success planning an event like this. It’s a big responsibility,” Allain said.
After the permission slips had been signed, the entrance fees collected, auditions held, programs printed, concessions acquired, the show was ready. Class photographer Sophia Santos of Marion served as one of the MCs for the evening.
“I’m nervous. I’ve never done this before,” Santos said.
She was not alone in her anxiety. In the halls and backstage, performers readied themselves by stretching, warming up their voices, rehearsing moves, and practicing lyrics. Even the more seasoned performers admitted to pre-show jitters.
Nick Mathiue, a junior from Rochester, quickly found his zone once he began singing “Dancing Shoes” by Gavin Degraw.
“It was nerve-wracking,” said Mathiue. “It was just like the normal jitters, but after I got into it, it was like no one else was there.”
Evan Lacombe, who danced to the song “Bloodstream,” said he was nervous before performing, but he hid it well. He went on to win first place in the talent show.
The evening went off without a hitch. It featured everything from slow, passionate love ballads to fiery, intense choreography. Each student took the stage with an individual passion, hoping to not only entertain their school, but to offer themselves as ambassadors of the diverse character and culture of the Tri-Town youth. The audience was vivacious and their cheers and applause seemed to grow louder as each act took a bow, with the excitement often times preempting the end of the performances.
The Class of 2013 had a goal of raising $1,500 from the night, but no matter how much money they collected, the class gave the ORRHS community a way to appreciate the wealth of young talent that thrives here.
By Eric Tripoli