For a few brief minutes after the bell rings, the LHS hallways are filled with students and chatter as a crowd rushes out of their classrooms, eager to return home. But for the students involved in Variety Show, they have rehearsal.
Starting in January, students spend hours after school every day developing choreography, running through acts, playing instruments, and more. Putting together a 2.5-3 hour show with a series of different ensembles requires the dedication of each member of the show.
The music ensemble–which will perform 10 songs–practices two hours after school each day to eventually perfect every song. The dancers work on developing and rehearsing choreography, while students doing comedy have to collaborate with each other while writing and practicing their sketches. Additionally, emcees must write their intros and practice them. Each ensemble has rehearsals according to their own specific needs, but each practice usually lasts at least an hour after school.
“It’s a lot of work that goes into it,” Ghizdavu said. “Since the 1st rehearsal, it’s been about an hour and a half to two hours after school every day.”
Director of the show Evelyse Martinez and assistant director Emma Fetters both know the value of over preparation in ensuring that everything runs smoothly as performance dates quickly approach.
“The directors of the show organize and orchestrate the schedules, stage times, come up with the theme, help any and all ensembles with problem solving, especially the emcees, which we are in direct charge of,” Fetters said.
Even during February Break, the Variety Show directors, advisors, and ensembles remain consistent with rehearsals. Students rehearse at school during February break from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m..
“February break is one of our long-standing traditions that greatly helps all the cast members bond, but also perfect their acts to be ready for the show,” Lahoud said.
But rehearsals aren’t only an opportunity to improve music and choreography–they are also a chance to strengthen or even build relationships.
“You get to know more people who have similar interests too, because the different ensembles are specific to different things,” said sophomore Alexander Ghizdavu.
Just as important as making sure the performers are well prepared is making sure that the stage is well equipped. What is known as “Tech week” is held close to the performance dates. By this time, the performers should already know their parts like the backs of their hands, but rehearsals take place during this week to ensure that technology like lights and speakers are running smoothly.
The advisors of the show, chorus teacher Brandon Lahoud and technology teacher Roy Boudreau, coordinate the show. They both put in the work and spend long hours after school collaborating with students, demonstrating their clear dedication to putting together an impressive performance.
“Mr. Boudreau and I are the train tracks,” he said. “With ‘Variety Show’ being a train led by the conductors–our directors of show–[and] each ensemble being a car of a train. We make sure everything successfully makes it to the ‘station’, AKA performance dates, and do a lot behind the scenes that the cast members don’t realize.”
All of this preparation doesn’t just result in an impressive show–cast members and coordinators all gain valuable experiences unique to each year. In combination with the support from faculty and LHS students who watch the Variety Show, the consistent hard work that comes with such a commitment is all worth it.
“Variety Show has this wonderful ability to capture lightning in a bottle, and truly make a very unique experience for all cast members each year,” Lahoud said. “Variety Show has succeeded for so many years because of the students working together to make something magical, unique, and most importantly is just ‘fun’.”
