April 24, 2002

Students showcase talents

Glenn Loomis holds annual Blue Crew Talent Show

By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
       To the wild applause of the packed bleachers, students at Glenn Loomis strutted their stuff.
      The Third Annual Blue Crew Talent Show was a hit Wednesday, featuring an afternoon performance mainly for staff and students and an evening performance geared to families.
      From chicken dances to cowboy shuffles, airborne acrobatics to hula-hoops, students put on a wide variety of acts. The show featured 26 acts by students in grades one through six.
      Other acts included piano recitals, poetry reading, lip synching and drumming. Even Michael Jackson was on hand, in the guise of Ben Wittbrodt, who portrayed the famous "Billie Jean" routine with keen accuracy.
      The Spice Girls also dropped in to give a rendition of hit song "Wannabe." Last-minute defections by two Spices, due to illness and moving, required quick replacement. But the act came off without a hitch despite one member joining just before the dress rehearsal Wednesday morning.
      "We picked that song because it is our favorite," said Baby Spice, also known as Paige Fagan, a sixth-grade student.
      Students began choosing and preparing their acts in February, rehearsing together on their own time. They worked up their own costumes and developed choreography as needed. Performers also decorated a poster to announce their act and its members.
      All the preparation, however, did not prevent some stage fright when the big day came and performers waited offstage for their turn.
      "Before the show we had butterflies in our stomachs," said Aly Jarosz, a sixth-grade student who performed a duet dance with friend Nicole Hale. "But when we got out there, it was fine."
      Karen Inman, the school's Focus Room teacher, coordinated the show. She previewed each act, arranged the acts to provide a pleasing mix and coordinated the dress rehearsal. "The kids are charged up, especially after the performance they give for their friends and peers," Inman said. "We look forward to the show every year."
      Three students emceed the show: Nick Forton, Greg Brown and Torre Overaitis.
      "It is fun announcing and seeing all the acts," noted Brown, a sixth-grade student who performed in the talent show last year.