It's a Family Affair

On March 14, 2019, the Hawthorne gym transformed into a rocking venue, entertaining over 350 audience members with 66 children and 45 acts varying from the expected, like singers and dancers, to the unexpected, like hula hoopers and magicians, at the annual Hawthorne Variety Show.

This third year of the show featured many returning performers, some sharing the same talent as in previous years while many risked the chance to try something new. Third-grader Michael Dorko, who sang in both the 2017 and 2018 shows, chose to add piano to his act this year: “I really like Post Malone and the song ‘Better Now.’ I wanted to learn it on the piano so I could play it and sing it myself.” This year instead of dancing like she did in her first two shows, second-grader Vivian Carson shared her acting skills. She “chose 2 friends who are both kind and loyal to perform a skit about friendship with me.” Vivian says, “performing in front of people is my passion, and it makes me feel happy.”

Another set of performers who switched things up this year are the Torson sisters. Last year, Nolee and and Lola sang a duet. This year Nolee took the stage alone for a solo of “Find Me” while her younger sister, Lola, performed a salsa dance with another sibling: older brother Matthew Echevarria, a professional dancer who is also an alum of both Sandburg and York.

Matthew is far from the only family member making this year’s talent show a family affair. McKenzie Morris, a Hawthorne Alum helped little sisters Megan and Taylor and friend Rowan Hoppe choreograph their dance to “Girls on Fire.” Theo and Adelaide Chapman played a violin duet with their mom, Rachel Chapman, accompanying them on piano. Other parents took the stage as well, including Brian Bresnahan, who played guitar while daughter Margot and friend Gianna Crowley sang “What About Us.” Brynne Asgedom and Becklin Abernathy’s violin duet were accompanied by Brynne’s mom, Erin, on piano.

The Elmhurst community showed its true spirit with the show as well with additional Hawthorne alumni and other District 205 students volunteering their time to help. York student Ellie Casey served as stage crew for the 3rd year in a row, this year bringing along younger sister Maggie and Josephine Roubitchek, both 6th graders at Sandburg, all three Hawthorne alumni. Churchville 8th grader, Dara Gami, took photos that parents can access online after the show. The Casey sisters younger brother, Danny, performed in the show, as did Josephine Routibitchek’s younger brothers, Jacob, Will and Noah.

Several other Hawthorne alumni helped younger friends choreograph dances. Sandburg 6th graders Libby and Elise Donaldson helped 1st graders Blair Messacar, Morgan McDonald, Alli Raia and Audrey Tatman choreograph a dance to Jojo Siwa’s “D.R.E.A.M”. York pom member Kate Larson worked with the Second Grade Dancing Queens: Julia Vitellaro, Samantha Youngren, Payton Camden, Nina Swan and Abby Barz.

Youngest Morris sister, Taylor, shares that her favorite part about participating in the show “was dancing with my sister and my friend.” Having a chance to work with older siblings and friends is just one of the many reasons students enjoy participating in the show. Kindergartener and Fortnight dancer Carter Waichulis explained that “performing in front of my peers and teachers makes me feel confident and brave.” Third grader Daniella Miulli, who sang and played ukulele with Fiona Bremner, agrees, explaining that “performing in the show gave me confidence.”

Megan Morris, a second grader who danced with her sister and a friend, enjoys seeing how the kids in the show and the audience all support each other. “I like how everyone cheers for each other.”

5th grader and 3-time performer (2 years singing, 1 year dancing) Hannah LaFaire appreciates the opportunity to express her creativity: “I love to be creative and dance from my heart.”

Addison Hronek enjoys the impact her performance has on the audience: “I just really want to make people happy, and I thought what better way than to sing for them. I chose Roar because whenever I was blue, sad or mad it would make me happy. I just feel like it will make other people happy, too.”

And then there’s 5th grader JD Passarelli, who gets right down to it why he explains why he likes to perform in the show: “I like the attention.”

And sweet 1st grader Blair Messacar who says her group chose to dance to “D.R.E.A.M.” not only because the song “is new and has nice things to say in it” but also because, of course, “we wanted to wear the bows in our hair.” What better reason could there be?

The successful Hawthorne Talent show wrapped up with a rousing visit from CHAMP, the Hawthorne mascot, followed by a final act featuring Hawthorne general music teacher and choir director Samantha Cunanan. Ms. Cunanan and her troup of teachers dressed in all black accented by glow sticks. They flossed, did the macarena and the hokey pokey and got the entire crowd of students and parents on their feet dancing and singing. What a show!

The Hawthorne students, staff, parents and PTA members cannot wait to see what next year brings: new performers, show alumni returning with new acts or new talents, and even more Elmhurst community members and Hawthorne alumnus helping both on stage and off. Let’s wrap with the inspiring words of second grader Grayson McQuade, who has performed taekwondo demonstrations for two shows and danced and played the piano this year: “Never be afraid to share your talents with others! Have fun and be confident!”

Thank you to our 69 student performers!

Abby Barz
Addison Hronek
Adelaide Chapman
Alli Raia
Ally Kent
Ashlyn Chiu
Aubrey Carson
Audrey Tatman
Avery Brauneis
Avery Hronek
Avery O'Brien
Becklin Abernathy
Bella Cortez
Betsy Clausen
Blair Messacar
Brynn Asgedom
Carter Waichulis
Charlotte Berry
Daniella Miulli
Danny Casey
Eleanor Berry
Eva Vitellaro
Faith Krzak
Fiona Bremner
Fiona Johnson
George Redfearn
Gianna Crowley
Gianna Schoditsch
Grayson McQuade
Hannah LaFaire
Harrison Gonzalez
Isabella Bailey
Izzy Keppner
Jacob Roubitchek
JD Passerelli
Julia Vitellaro
Kai Ostermann
Kate Evers
Kelsey Jurgensen
Landon McQuade
Lola Torson
Lyla Crowley
Margot Bresnahan
Maya Ostermann
Maya Patel
Megan Greiwe
Megan Morris
Michael Dorko
Morgan McDonald
Nina Swan
Noah Roubitchek
Nolee TOrson
Olivia N. Allen
Payton Camden
Quinn Stratton
Rachel Wernich
Rafael Boutin
Reese Chavez
Riley Raible
Rowan Hoppe
Ryan Enright
Samantha Youngren
Sawyer Asgedom
Shalom Olatunde
Sloan Stratton
Taylor Morris
Theo Chapman
Vivian Carson
Will Roubitchek