Talent Show puts Spotlight on Student Directors

By ARIELLE KIRSCH

Student Reporter

 

 

While performers and melodies danced across the stage of Penn High School’s Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday, Jan. 14, Penn students Elizabeth “Liz” Carrier, Ashley Szumski, and Abigail “Abby” Callender kept very calm composures under stress and pressure.  With the responsibility of directing a 10-act talent show on their shoulders, Carrier, Szumski, and Callender were organized and mature, and ensured that each performance ran as smoothly as it could.

 

With tickets at $5 and 10 incredible acts performing, the talent show was a hit.  Won by DeCarla Thompson, who sang “I Know Where I’ve Been,” by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, the production was well-organized and enjoyable.  The three students produced the program with poise as each act was performed to the best of the talented abilities of the students.

 

Due to the fantastic networking and producing skills of Callender, Carrier, and Szumski, the talent show was quite a success.  Michael Coffee, a Penn High School English teacher who played a significant role in coordinating this year’s talent show, spoke highly of the producers.

 

“The circumstances we faced this year was a paucity of acts (not of talent, mind you) at the only original scheduled night of auditions. The student producers then were able to tap into a network that brought us from three acts to 10 for a second round of auditions, and we managed to put on nearly an hour's worth of tremendous artistic work.”

 

Having never been a part of the Penn talent show in any way before this year, Carrier and Callender were surprised and excited by the experience and by their own personal gains.

 

“I learned that there was a much wider variety of talent at my school than I even knew of, (along with) how much work and help from so many different people it takes to put together a production like this,” Carrier said.  “The work starts weeks before auditions and isn't over until the curtain falls on the very last act.”  Callender fondly reminisced about the event by saying, “It was definitely a lovely experience … I learned that it was a lot more fun than I anticipated. We danced backstage to the singers and joked around with each other. I definitely hope to produce again next year.”

 

All three producers of the 2016 Penn Talent Show have been involved with acting, singing, dancing, or producing for some time now, and never have ceased to appreciate the opportunities being a performer can present.

 

“It definitely helps people put themselves out there when it comes to confidence. The first time I was onstage in front of everyone singing I was wonderfully terrified [but] never wanted to leave,” said Callender.  “Performing in the talent show give people the opportunity to be heard and express themselves,” Szumski agreed.  Carrier concluded by saying, “I believe the chance to participate in the talent show is a great opportunity for students of all talents and backgrounds to come together.  For a lot of students, the experience is a huge confidence boost.  I love getting to see how much their confidence grows in the short time between auditions and the show.”