STUDENTS PERFORM IN GAITHER HIGH REVUE

By STEPHEN HAMMILL

Gaither High School recently held its Star Revue Talent Show in the school’s auditorium to a packed house of more than 900 people.

The 2007 talent show, held Feb. 2, featured Gaither students performing in 24 different acts.

The revue is an annual talent showcase, with the proceeds going toward financing the Senior Splash Bash, when Adventure Island is rented out exclusively for Gaither’s senior class on graduation night to provide a safe, alcohol-free environment.

Gaither PTSA chairwoman Leigh Dawson has run the talent show for the last two years. She said she made several changes to the format of the revue in her tenure, namely altering the structure of competition. Instead of being judged during the performance itself, the students had to audition to partake in the show, freeing them up to perform for the audience with nothing on the line.

“I wanted the kids not to be under so much scrutiny and pressure when performing in front of their peers,” said Dawson.

Upon making the cut, they had to arrange their already busy schedules to include time for practice and mandatory rehearsals after school.

“Besides school work, band practice, cheerleading, preparing for dance competitions and jobs, these kids came to rehearsals for three weeks before the final week of the show,” she said.

Most of the audience comprises fellow students, according to Dawson.

“Our motto is ‘For Our Students, By Our Students,’” she said.

Gaither students also made up the masters of ceremonies and technical staff for the revue. The emcees worked together after school and on the weekends writing their own script, interviewing performers, deciding on costume changes and laying down music tracks.
Dawson has been struck by the sheer assortment of talents on display from the students.

“We have a real diversity of acts, from hip-hop routines to the martial arts, from classical dance pieces to poetry readings.”

Dawson, a volunteer, is an event planner by day, and has a daughter in her third year at Gaither; her son graduated last year.

Local company, Bay Sound, provided sound and lighting for the revue. The Rent-A-Center on Sheldon Road donated a big screen television for simulcast.