A Different Kind of Drama

This Thursday’s spring cabaret will cast the spotlight on new and veteran student-performers

Kendel Barber, Reporter

The spring cabaret has officially been cancelled.  This article ran before the announcement was made.

Though the spring musical has come and gone, singing and acting on the NASH have not stopped.  On Thursday, May 9 at 7 pm in the NASH auditorium, NASH students will perform in the second cabaret event of the school year. Student-performers will showcase vocal abilities and perform scenes from Tony Award-winning musicals.

In contrast to the fall cabaret, this event features acting as well as singing. While this is a free event for all members of the community, donations to benefit the Emma Munson Foundation are encouraged. Munson was an NA Actors’ Society and Choir alum who will be honored at the cabaret.

Mr. Truesdell, the head of this spring’s cabaret, believes that the event is doubly significant.

“It’s a great opportunity to provide students a fun avenue to both act and sing in front of a live audience,” he explained. “It’s to support the memory of a lost friend to our stage.”

Whether they’re underclassmen who are relatively new to the student body or upperclassmen who never did any of NA’s productions until recently, they’re here, and they’re featured, and we couldn’t be any happier.

— Robby Yoho, Actors' Society President

The show will consist of a variety of musical and theatrical talent in an intimate setting.

“I like that the endeavor will provide every individual an opportunity to take center stage,” said Mr. Truesdell. “We will perform a collection of monologues, scenes, and songs from pieces which have won a major Tony Award. The show will consist of ten songs from Tony Award winning musicals and ten two-minute scenes or monologues from Tony Award-winning comedies or dramas.”

Participants are excited to show off their skills in one of the last NASH Auditorium performances of the year.

“This cabaret is not only a breathtaking presentation of some of the greatest works in performing arts but also an amazing way to showcase and discover the talent this student body has,” said Lily Johnson, a junior performer.

Musical students at NASH have chosen to perform for many different reasons.

“Singing has been a huge part of my high school experience, so I am happy to be singing a few more times before I graduate, ” senior Amelia Seymour said.

Junior Zack Brennen is also looking forward to performing this Thursday.

“I saw this as an opportunity to improve myself as an actor as well as a singer,” he said.

While NA does a great job of incorporating many displays of musical talent for students in the performing arts throughout the school year, the cabaret is a unique event because of the types of performances that will be presented.

“It’s an opportunity to explore acting straight through scenes that carry a true emotional weight to them,” explained Robby Yoho, the president of the Actors’ Society. “It’s exciting to have this opportunity to finally do something that isn’t strictly comedic for a change.”

The cabaret is a way to display the talent of many different NASH student-performers, some of whom may not always get the spotlight in other performances, like the fall play or spring musical.

“I’m excited not only because there will be people who we’ve seen acting all the time here at NASH, but also because it gives a huge opportunity to a lot of our friends who maybe haven’t gotten the same recognition in the past,” said Yoho. “Whether they’re underclassmen who are relatively new to the student body or upperclassmen who never did any of NA’s productions until recently, they’re here, and they’re featured, and we couldn’t be any happier.”