Musical theater fans are in luck.
The Oak Harbor High School Choir Club is putting on a musical revue of 17 songs from 14 shows May 6, 7, 13 and 14. The performance will feature songs from shows such as “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Company” and “Little Women,” alongside other favorites.
Showcasing the singing, dancing and acting talents of 31 students, all performances will begin at 7 p.m. at Oak Harbor High School. Tickets cost $5.
Director Darren McCoy said many members of the choir club had been cast in “Mamma Mia” in 2020 as underclassmen, but the show was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now as juniors and seniors, the student performers can finally get back to shining onstage.
“There’s a lot of new blood, because COVID messed with a lot of our program, so it’s great for us seniors who didn’t have a chance to perform two years ago who are now able to put our passion into this project,” said choir club President Graeme Bennett. “It’s also great to bring some freshmen and sophomores into the fold.”
McCoy said the choir program took a serious hit in numbers because of the pandemic. He estimated the volume of new freshmen joining the club in particular has been reduced, and he hopes to boost those numbers back up in the coming school years.
For the freshmen that have stepped up, however, the experience has been a great one. The musical event features some of the group’s youngest talent in several songs.
Dana Rivo is one of the club’s freshmen. Though she’s sung her whole life, when she entered high school, she felt it was time to share her talent with the world.
Rivo, who sings “She Used to be Mine” from “Waitress” in the musical revue, said she will definitely be back for more performances throughout her high school career.
“I can’t wait to go and see what comes next,” she said. “I’m just at the edge of my seat, totally ready to go and jump into the next act.”
Cyrus Amor, another freshman, is a soloist in “You Can’t Stop the Beat” from “Hairspray.” He said he would encourage high schoolers or incoming freshmen considering joining the choir club to do so, because they will find the same loving community that he has.
“The amount of encouragement I get from them is honestly overwhelming at times,” he said of his musical revue castmates. “But it’s also good because I know when I might mess up on something, I know they’re there for me.”
While the club’s freshmen are just getting started, the seniors are getting ready to say goodbye. For 10 senior cast members, the revue will be their last bow on the Oak Harbor stage.
Senior Jessica Turner said the musical revue was a fun final show because it allowed her to play several different roles within one production. Turner sings “Moments in the Woods” from “Into the Woods” and portrays Peggy in “Schuyler Sisters” from “Hamilton.”
“It’s exciting to be in this kind of musical because then I can be a baker’s wife, and I can be a sister, and I can be a hippie,” she said.
Elizabeth Lof, another senior, agreed that the musical revue has been a great send-off for the soon-to-be graduates, adding that she is proud of how the performance came together. Lof plays Margot in “Omigod You Guys” from “Legally Blonde” and Angelica in the “Hamilton” number.
More than anything, Lof said, she was glad just to be back on stage doing what she loves — even if the break she got during the pandemic has left her a little out of practice.
“It’s awesome, but it’s also absolutely terrifying. Not having sung alone in front of an audience for two-and-a-half years, it’s kind of crazy to be there front center stage and sing in front of an audience, because it’s just something that I’m totally not used to,” she said. “But it’s actually really fun, and I missed it a lot.”
McCoy said students weren’t the only ones who came together for the show; school staff and alumni also pitched in, with high school Principal Nate Salisbury leading the charge to update the sound system with $15,000 worth of individual microphones and recent Oak Harbor graduate Alex Felger serving as sound tech for the show.
The show also drew on the experience and resources of the wider community, with Liz Hendricks and Cynthia Perry coming in as guest vocal coaches and the Whidbey Playhouse donating props and costumes.
From left, Haven Lemme, Elizabeth Lof and Jessica Turner rehearse “Schuyler Sisters” from “Hamilton.” (Photo by Karina Andrew/Whidbey News-Times)
Megan Croft, left, and Gabby Eaton practice “Some Things are Meant to Be” from “Little Women.” (Photo by Karina Andrew/Whidbey News-Times)
Maggie Garrett sings “Getting Married Today” from “Company.” (Photo by Karina Andrew/Whidbey News-Times)
Emma Aichele, left, and Sadie Marriott practice “Stepsisters’ Lament” from “Cinderella.” (Photo by Karina Andrew/Whidbey News-Times)
The cast shows off their dance moves in “Steam Heat” from “The Pajama Game.” (Photo by Karina Andrew/Whidbey News-Times)
The girls of the cast rehearse “Omigod You Guys” from “Legally Blonde.” (Photo by Karina Andrew/Whidbey News-Times)
