Musical Talent Displayed at Stevenson Showcase

Almost every musical genre known to man was on display over the weekend as more than 300 students performed in 's 2012 Showcase.

Opening to a packed auditorium Friday, the two-night show featured almost 80 acts, said Robin Naughton, a co-chair for the event and spokeswoman for the Patriot Parent Association (PPA), sponsor of the 23rd edition of Showcase.

"This one is bigger, it's five weeks earlier," said Naughton, as she stood in the foyer outside the auditorium during intermission Friday night. "And it should be the best one yet."

Although the talented Stevenson students took center stage, forming rock, punk, blues, folk and dance groups that carried such names as Nebraska, Future Doctors of America and Cheryl, the performers were quick to credit The Angels, a parent group formed from PPA members who kept the acts on track during pre-show activities and the actual performance.

"They kept the show going, set things up and keep the energy up," said Jessica Romanz, a senior and one of the emcees. "There are so many of them and they are so nice. They work so hard."

Naughton described the 16 Angels as "mentors or stage managers" who encourage the students and help them keep up with paperwork and schedules.

Like the other female emcees, Romanz wore an elegant gown for her onstage duties.

"It's so beautiful," she said. "I'm so excited."

The boys wore tuxedos, lending an authoritative, formal feel to the proceedings.

Each group of emcees wrote their own material to introduce each act.

"As an emcee we have to write our own acts and memorize our lines," Romanz said. "We go up, do our little bit and go back down."

Romanz said she was familiar with working on stage; she took improv lessons at Second City, she said.

"I'm obviously very enthusiastic. This is my first show and my last show," the senior said. "I really like announcing. I want to be a museum educator and give tours and stuff."

"This is me expressing myself at a very big school," she said.

Emcees Julia Zanotelli, Alison Jonesi and Leslie Luna drew a few laughs from the audience when Zanotelli appeared on stage toting a small dumbbell and wearing a cowboy hat to introduce an act called "Country Strong."

Paul Halliday, Keith Norris and Erin Rice formed a group called What Would You Do Without the Dudette? and sang "Isn't She Lovely" by Stevie Wonder in an arrangement they called different and experimental.

"Last year we had two girls," Rice said, explaining the name. "This year, I'm the only girl."

Rice said the student-run rehearsals, especially those leading up to opening night, were harried.

"Sometimes it's real hectic, especially at the end," she said.

She described Showcase as an eclectic group of performers.

"They are all different," she said. "It's probably the best thing I've ever been in at Stevenson."