'Ignite the Light' Shows Off JFK Kids' Many Talents

Kids are always performing: from the latest “mom, look what I did!” to those clever tears when bedtime draws near. But it’s not often that elementary school kids get to perform their talents in front of a big audience, on a big stage, under big hot lights.

Heck, putting together a show like that would require wrangling a cast and crew of 120 kids ages 4-12, getting all of them to listen and sit still when needed, and making sure none of them feel left out, overshadowed or jealous. That’s a big job! Still, that’s exactly what Chelsea O’Brien and Debra Wilson, along with several of their fellow parents and substitute teachers, did over the last few weeks.

And now, the public will get to see the results of all their hard work at Saturday night’s “,” which will feature performances by the kids of .

The show was first put on a few years ago, but lack of sufficient help put it on hiatus. But when kids want something, look out.

“The demand!,” said show co-organizer O’Brien. “Kids would ask every year if it could be done, and this year our PTA expressed interest in taking on the challenge through our newly formed Fine Arts and Development Committee.”

Committee or no committee, however, this show took a lot of work and patience. During Tuesday afternoon’s rehearsal, O’Brien’s co-organizer Debra Wilson was the picture of calm in the eye of a storm. Kids on stage were squinting at the spotlights and giggling while kids not onstage were running wild in the halls of . But one by one, each act was blocked out and rehearsed, and the kids couldn’t have been happier.

Julian Jones, a sixth-grader who missed the show’s original audition day, got in on the show by joining the opening act, where he’ll sing and dance. “I’m excited,” he said, “and a little nervous.”

Jones’ fellow sixth-graders Owen Zabor and Tim Castleman provide a little comic relief to the show, acting as janitors who are supposed to be sweeping the stage, but always try to steal the spotlight.

“We announce the finale,” said Zabor, “and then Tim pulls a lame joke.”

Kidding aside, Saturday’s talent show will be the result of a whole lot of dedication on behalf of the JFK parents.

Melissa Wilson, who has three children in the district and is also a substitute teacher at Kennedy (as is O’Brien), gives a ton of credit to O’Brien and Wilson for their hard work and dedication.

“I am proud to say that no interested student was turned away,” O’Brien said. “We insisted that our variety show not be a contest, but rather a showcase of student-directed talent that aims to highlight our young performers and hopefully inspire them to, well, ignite their light!”

O’Brien promises audiences will enjoy the show, which is packed with songs, dances, skits, a choreographed take-off on the Muppet Show, a student performance of the White Stripes song “Hardest Button to Button” and much, much more.

“I always tell my performers that by the time they get to opening night, they are already stars in my book,” O’Brien said. “The dedicated work has been done and now they just get to have fun!”

The “Ignite the Light: 2011 JFK Variety Show” is Saturday, March 26, at 6:30 p.m., at the Ferndale High School auditorium. Tickets are $3.