Marple Newtown Parents, Singers Successfully Put On Their First Cabaret Night

BROOMALL– Choir Parents Association had a great success with their first ever cabaret fundraiser. "A Night at the Cabaret" featured a variety of music by some very talented high school students, who received a great community response. 

The Choir Parents Association worked diligently to find businesses to cater dinner and new outlets to promote the evening. Their efforts resulted in a sold out show. Over 100 tickets were sold and the proceeds will go to offset the costs of trips, uniforms, camps, and many other events the high school choir participates in.

What sets this evening apart from other choir events is the individuality of the performers the cabaret night represented. The students picked their own musical numbers and developed them outside of the traditional school choir setting.

Choir Director Christopher Vogel said the students were thrilled with the idea of developing their own performances. He allowed them the freedom to pick the music and to practice on their own. Senior and Choir Club President also saw her fellow choir members embrace the musical freedom this event allowed.

"I’ve heard a lot of people who have been practicing and singing together meeting up outside of school, really working hard to make sure their act is good. I think its great that everyone is working so hard," Maslin said. "I think the more excited people are saying, 'Oh, wait until you hear what I've been practicing.'"

The parents association originally planned to do all the cooking themselves, but decided to find donations instead of cooking for over 100 audience members. Executive Committee member, Terri Alexander, felt that finding the restaurants was easier than expected.

The association reached out to places their members frequented or had business and family connections with. In the end, dinner was provided by local favorites Giampino's, and .

Choir family, friends and fans were treated to cheese and pepperoni platters along with an ample buffet of Italian favorites like rigatoni, pesto pasta, meatballs, chicken parmigiana, and salads. There were plenty of student and parent volunteers to help keep the buffet line moving smoothly.

The casual dining atmosphere allowed people to catch up on everything from what their kids were doing to the wonderful new renovations to reception hall. During dinner, two students provided music. Alex Dragonetti played smooth jazz guitar while pianist Alice Tran brought a more classical mood to dinner.

The evening's performances ranged from pop songs, show tunes, and even a little bit of the oldies. Jason Armstrong showed his broad vocal range and stage presence in "Suddenly Seymour" from Little Shop of Horrors and his powerfully moving rendition of "Empty Chairs" from Les Miserables.

Dianna Dragonetti's Norah Jones voice and Natalie Merchant smile charmed the audience with two wonderful numbers, "Letter to Hermione" and Gershwin's "Someone to Watch Over Me."

Becca Alexander also preformed a song from Les Miserables with her dramatic, yet elegant versions of "On my Own." Wil Kauffman and Vincent Raspa gave a unique version of "All I Ask of You" from Phantom of the Opera. For those unfamiliar with the song, it is usually performed by a man and a woman.

The more contemporary audience members were treated to the students' versions of hit songs like local pop star Pink's "Glitter in the Air." Other popular songs included an acoustic version of "Say You'll Be There" from the Spice Girls and the current hit "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele.

The real show stopper of the evening was Maslin's two performances. First was a song she discovered on YouTube, "Alto's Lament."  This quirky song showcased Maslin's stage presence and amazing vocal range. Her second number paired her up with best friend Jenna Lucas. Together, they performed the duet "For Good," a sentimental song from Wicked.

The musical portion of the show ended with the powerful voice of Alyssa Myers as she preformed "Hold On." As the songs came to a close, Vogel made the remark of how lucky he feels to be able to work with the students.

"I get to work with this talent everyday," he declared. This may have been the first cabaret night but with a sold out crowd, the Choir Parents Association is already thinking of making this an annual event.

The even provided an opportunity to bring the community together and give the students a chance to showcase their talents individually and outside of the school.