Showtime! Crispinology: The decision making process

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April 30, 2010 • Natalie Wilkins, staff writer  
Filed under Features

    Every year around this time, choir students scramble to put together numbers for Showtime. This is not only a stressful time for these students but also for choir director Cathy Crispino.  Along with three other judges, she listened to all the auditions and determined who got to be a part of this show. This can be a very emotional and long process for Crispino, and she reviews each audition thoroughly to make sure she reaches the right decision. ”

   The kids are so invested and do such a great job, it’s hard to disappoint them because it’s very personal to them,” Crispino said.

   The three outside judges who join Crispino during auditions are all musicians themselves who know the show quite well. All three of them have connections with LHS in some way or another and give Crispino all the input they can on what numbers they think should make it into the show.

   “The judges give us notes that I look over and they usually consist of yes this number is very strong, maybe/yes it has potential, maybe/no it would need a lot of work, and thank you for auditioning, but that has no chance,” Crispino said.

   The show usually consists of four soloist, four duets, and 21 ensembles, but instead this year there are eight solos and one duet. The amount of talent in the senior class had a lot to do with this change.

   “We have a very strong senior class with a lot of strong talented theatre kids,” Crispino said. “I also felt the need to have so many solos because this senior class only got to do one musical their junior year, because they only do one every two years, so this gives them a chance to have a solo moment.”

  Auditions are always a hard time for Crispino due, to the emotional factor that plays in who gets cut, but now that auditions have passed she is moving forward and looking ahead to their first performance.

   “My advice to any students who are thinking about auditioning for Showtime in upcoming years is pick a great song that will appeal to a wide audience,” Crispino said. “Also, talk to people from other generations to get an idea of what a good song would be and then carefully pick good personnel.”

TALENT KEEPS SHOWTIME A-LISTERS RETURNING

“I like to see students I have doing something that they don’t do in class.  A lot of them are very talented.  I think it’s good entertainment,” FACS teacher Shannon Wilson said.

Science teacher Jo Huntsinger agreed.

“I love it, I think it’s one of the best events at Lawrence High School if not the best.  I love just having these kids in class you never knew had talent.  I don’t miss a year and I’ve taught since 1982.  We’ll be there Friday this year.  Even when I went here it was a huge deal.  It’s amazing seeing people in Showtime becoming celebrity.”

SOLOISTS 2010

LUCAS PARKER

“Hallelujah” by Jeff Buckley

“I wanted to sing one of Jeff Buckley’s songs because he is one of my favorite singers, and I had originally wanted to perform a different song, but the key was a step too high, and I wanted to use my guitar.”

OLIVIA JOHNSON

“Sunshine” by Bill Whithers

“Three days before tryouts, I had no song and had considered 10 other songs, but none of them really fi t my voice just right, but when I started singing this one, it just clicked.”

MATT DRAHOZAL

“Theme from New York, New York” as performed by Frank Sinatra

“I was originally going to do a song by Michael Buble, but then Derrick Weishaar decided he was singing a song by him, so we looked New York, New York on Youtube.

JASMINE SIMS

“I’d Rather Go Blind” by Etta James

“I chose that song because I wanted to pick an artist who was a powerful female singer who could whale. I also wanted to go in a different direction than last year.”

EVAN GEORGIE

“Dance With My Father” by Luther Vandross

“When my grandpa died, my mom used to always listen and sing to this song, so it just stuck with me since fourth grade. Everyone bring your tissues.”

JACOB LEET

“Stand by Me” by Ben E. King

“I chose it because it’s just a catchy song to groove to, and I think the song will be unanimously enjoyed by the rest of the audience.”

ADDISON FREI

“Home on the Range”

“I kind of wanted to do something to tribute my time in Kansas that had sentimental value. I improvise the vocals and piano, so every time I sing it, it’s different.”

DERRICK WEISHAAR

“Everything” by Michael Buble

“I chose this song because it’s lively and upbeat. I wanted to choose a song that sort of described my personality simply in its style. Mrs. Crispino herself called it a “happy song.” I was originally going to sing a different Buble song, but this one was suggested to me by a friend, and I really liked it.”

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