Marian Catholic Students Host 6th Annual Variety Show

When Claire Jakubisin, Marian Catholic’s Choir Director came to the high school, one of her goals was to have a variety show featuring the talented students.

“I started the Variety Show because I wanted a show that could be student led” explains Jakubisin. “I originally had done a madrigal dinner and I saw that my students were interested in performing their own types of music and talents. It’s important for the students to be able to show their talents not only for performing, but also in organization and leadership. I enjoy helping each student develop a vision for what they want their act to look like on stage.”

Twenty two Marian Catholic students performed various talents including singing, juggling, poetry reading and more. At the end, all the students and host, Ashley Saul from Park Forest came together for the finale which was A Brand New Day.

“My student director Aria Whetstone decided on the final number” said Jakubisin.” She is really passionate about the musical The Wiz and that is why we chose “A Brand New Day” for our closing number. For the last two years our final number has been choreographed by the very talented Brandi Brumfield. She is a wonderful choreographer and is involved in choreographing our spring musicals” she adds.

One of the choir director’s favorite performance was a juggling act. “I was most blown away by KJ Tran, who is an international student from Vietnam. KJ performed a juggling routine with spinning figure eights. It was something that I had never seen before. I am always in awe at the talent that God has given our students” added Jakubisin.

For Senior, Carrington Johnson from Olympia Fields, this variety show would be her last one at Marian Catholic. Carrington performed Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Johnson has been in Marian’s choir all four years and has taken part in the variety show for the past three.

“This year, I decided to sing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” for two reasons” Johnson explained. “First, it fit in with the theme of “The Wiz” and was a great way to transition into Aria’s song “Home” and the final number, “Brand New Day. Second, this song expresses a future of happiness and fulfillment. Being a senior, I look towards my future with optimism, and hope for years of success and joy, and I believe this song reflected my feelings about my future perfectly.”

Besides performing, Johnson was the assistant student director for the variety show. “Directing the show this year changed my perspective of the effort it takes to put on a production” said Johnson. “However, because of the effort it took, the fulfillment I felt at the end of the show was amplified. The best experience for me from this show was watching all of the acts come together in the end.”

What is in the future for Johnson? “Now that I’m leaving Marian, I plan to continue to express myself musically by joining choir in college and possibly minoring in vocal performance” she added.

Another senior Payton Ramsey from Matteson performed an original poem titled “A Million Ways to say I Love You.”

“Freshman year, I helped backstage” begins Ramsey. “Sophomore year, I performed a song with two other girls and Junior and Senior year, I performed a piece of poetry. Friday’s show It was the first time I shared one of my very own poems in front of an actual audience.”

Most of the performers enjoyed the final song performed by everyone.

“The final group number is always my favorite part” said Ramsey.” Singing and dancing onstage with the rest of the cast was so much fun because at the end of all the work and time we put into the show, it was just the last big hurrah to end it with. The energy surrounding the performance that’s shared between the performers and the audience is electrifying and spirited.”

“I’m so grateful to have been a part of the variety show for all four of my years at Marian” Ramsey said. “ It has been an eye opening experience to work with people with all different kinds of talent and passions.”

Other performances included;

Candance Johnson and Nikeisha Smith performed Best Part, Kayla Sydnor performed Angels All Through the Night, Vanessa and Edward Nguyen performed Vietnamese Mash up. Also performing were; Perfect by Trevor Hickey, Taxi Cab by J Van Beest, The Spirit of the Wood Drum performed by Sophia Shiya Gong, The Greatest Love of All sung by Grace Olowabi, Jaidyn Bush did a dance number to Jump Remix, Talia Warr sang Alabaster Box, Chengyao Tan did a guitar solo called You and Me, Bethany Peoples sang You Say, Marcus Bobbitt sang I’m Still Standing, a duet Sam Kirchner and Paige Manning sang A Whole New World, Rebekah Crane sang a solo Sand Castles, Katie McGary followed as she sang Jealous, KJ Tran did an amazing juggling performance, Aria Whetstone sang Home and the whole cast performed A Brand New Day. A special thanks for sound and lights goes out to Jacob Bernarte.