- By Dan Veaner
- Entertainment
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Saturday (August 20) the Middle School Auditorium was transformed into a Cabaret with music, skits and comedy. The cabaret was the culmination of the Lansing Recreation Department's two week High School Summer Drama and Musical Program. The program was led by Lucas Hibbard, Middle School music teacher and director of the upcoming Middle School musical, "The Wizard of Oz."
The evening began and ended with all 25 students singing and dancing "One" from A Chorus Line. Cindy Howell as Mistress of Ceremonies was beaming as she introduced each act. "I'm so proud of the talent you see here tonight," she told the audience.
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Alex Jouandet and Zach Wilhelm performed vaudeville sketches, including "The Family Conversation," an adaptation of the famous Abbott and Costello "Who's On First?" routine. Students performed solos, duets and in groups with songs as varied as "Younger Than Springtime" from "South Pacific" and Alyssa Wasenko's rendition of "On My Own" from "Les Miserables."
Among a number of songs from the new musical, "Wicked," Elizabeth Clune performed a delightful rendition of "Popular" with Cindy Howell playing the young wicked witch. Katie Bruno and Andy Lockwood brought down the house with "As Long As You're Mine," also from "Wicked."
Coleen Ryan was hysterical as a waitress who gave her customers too many choices, playing off of Andy Lockwood's increasingly frustrated customer who just wanted a simple meal in the skit, "Dinner at Denny's."
The program was started by Cindy Howell for Middle School students, but soon grew to include High School performers. Last year the program was taken over by Lucas Hibbard. "I love working with the kids," he says. "It's one of the main reasons I do this. They're extremely talented. The group met five nights a week for two weeks. "I love seeing kids going from being shy and timid on stage to becoming confident and better at what they love to do," he says. When asked how she thinks Mr. Hibbard is following in her footsteps Mrs. Howell said, "He's great!"
Lucas Hibbard
For anyone who has seen plays and musicals at Lansing schools it is obvious that the staff gives a lot of love and encouragement to their students. Students are challenged to do more than they think they can accomplish and they succeed. The cabaret illustrated this as students at different performance levels conquered their fears to face an audience. Cabaret performing isn't easy, but these students pulled it off, as in Daniel Comisi's solo, "Consider Yourself" from "Oliver" and Katie Bruno singing and accompanying herself on a song she had written a few days earlier.
Amanda Seavey's choreography added a professional look to the acts, while Katie Howell's accompaniment was just right. Proceeds from the cabaret went to the Lansing Theater and Performing Arts Boosters (LTAPA) to buy new wireless microphones for the school theater program.
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