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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 13, 2018)
4 // COASTWEEKEND.COM Musical revue returns to Seaside High School Seaside High School choir director Kimber Parker leads the students in song during class. By KATHERINE LACAZE FOR COAST WEEKEND T hanks to Seaside High School seniors Taylor Carson and Holly Snook, the choir will once again stage a winter musical revue to entertain the public and raise money for their program. The revue will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17, at the high school’s cafete- ria/auditorium and feature songs from the 1950s to the 2000s. Selections include “Rockin’ Robin” and “Man in the Mirror” by Michael Jackson; “The Boys are Back in Town” by Thin Lizzy; “Single Ladies” by Beyoncé; and “Waterfalls” by TLC. Unlike the choir’s three performance concerts, held at the end of each trimester and featuring classic choral KATHERINE LACAZE PHOTO music, the revue is geared more toward entertainment, featuring dancing, theatrics and costumes. “Musical revues are straight-up pop, really fun to watch,” choice teacher Kimber Parker said. Creating a bond The choir put on musical revues for a few years under the previous choir director, Vanessa Rush. After skipping T he Astoria Christmas Fantastic Portlant Jazz Trio Snook said. Carson, who was shy as a freshman, believes having a mix of grade levels helps older students set a positive example for younger ones. “We get taught how to come out of our shells and love ourselves a little more at an early stage, because we have older kids who have already been through the process,” she said. “It’s nice to be a senior now, and I’m COASTER THEATRE PLAYHOUSE Nov. 16 - Dec. 23, 2018 H North Coast Chorale H Local Vocal Favorites A w Holiday w Show H the revue last year, Snook and Carson were determined to bring it back, organizing the event as a joint Pacifica Project. When they were un- derclassmen, they felt the revue helped them mature as performers, grow closer to their classmates and learn to be comfortable in their own skin. “It really opens you up while having a lot of fun,” With Kelley Shannon & Frients H Liberty Theatre Saturday, December 22 nd , 2018 at 6 pm Sponsored By The Riverwalk Inn like, ‘OK, I need to step up to the plate and start to get close to these kids and teach them it’s okay to be them- selves.’” Parker also thinks of the musical revue as a team-building experience for the choir students, particu- larly ahead of competition season. The choir has grown exponentially, she said, from 37 students last year to 65 this year. “It will be a really good way to create a bond, and that will make us stronger going into the rest of the year,” Parker said. “Kids are going to trust each other after this.” New robes All choir students par- ticipate in some capacity, primarily by performing but also working backstage, providing technical support, or running the snack bar during intermission. Former Seaside student Anita Barbic, who attends Clatsop Community College, is help- ing Snook and Carson with choreography. Students also plan to conduct a drawing for au- dience members to win the prize of sitting on a couch at the front of the auditorium during the musical revue. Originally the revue was intended as a fundraiser for new performance robes, as the current ones were pur- chased in the mid-1990s and showing significant wear and tear. With the district paying some of the cost and the community stepping up with the rest, however, the need no longer exists. “We made up that money so quickly, so our robes are paid for,” Parker said. The new purpose of the funds raised is purchasing high-quality, waterproof gar- ment bags to help the robes stay in pristine condition for many years, she said. Independent musicians The choir is getting pre- pared for competition season in other ways, as well. Last season, they made it to the state competition, where they excelled at sight-read- ing. “We’re much (further) along this year than we were last year,” Parker said. Carson agreed. She feels the students have a stronger grasp of all the components of music, including theory and technique. A goal of Parker’s teach- ing philosophy is to help students thoroughly under- stand music. She focuses on sight-reading, vocal tech- nique and emoting. “I want to turn kids into independent musicians, so they can get a piece of music and know what to do with it,” she said. CW Tickets $20 or $25 Shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Sunday shows starts at 3:00pm Sponsored by The Clark Foundation Tickets: 503-436-1242 or coastertheatre.com 108 N Hemlock Street, Cannon Beach, OR 1133 Commercial St., Astoria • 503-468-0308
