ft b y D a u i d S r b r i e r
^
Snowing True Colors [From show tunes to stand-up, students perform m i t h ft U f t r i e t i j o f s t ^ l e s f o r t a l e n t r n n t p s t
tight
s t u d e n t acts, a v e n t r i l o quist, and some d u m m i e s attracted s t u d e n t s to the K n i c k e r b o c k e r T h e a t e r for the Social Activities C o m m i t t e e ' s Talent Jam.
" W e ' r e p e r f o r m i n g this p i e c e at the D e V o s S h o w c a s e , so w e t h o u g h t this w o u l d be a g o o d e x e r c i s e to see h o w o u r g r o u p w a s d o i n g , " L e a c h m a n said. "It c a m e as a s u r p r i s e to m e that w e h a d w o n , a l t h o u g h w e s o u n d e d a lot b e t t e r in the p e r f o r m a n c e t h a n w e did in the dress rehearsal."
Ventriloquist Lynn Trefzger hosted the s h o w w i t h the h e l p of her f r i e n d s Simon, Jed, Emily, Camelot, and a rolled blanket that she turned into a b a b y . B e t w e e n acts, T r e f z g e r a n d h e r artificial assistants told j o k e s , gave a d v i c e on m a r r i a g e , s a n g , a n d t a l k e d to students.
L a c k of vision Performing their original composition, f r e s h m a n J e a n n e t t e J o h n s o n sings while freshman Jennie Alexander plays the keyboard and provides backup vocals. The d u o won second place for "Blinded." (Photo by Amy Otteson)
" L y n n w a s g r e a t . T h e c r o w d really r e s p o n d e d to her," said j u n i o r E r i n Overmeyer, Special Events Chairperson for SAC. " P e o p l e told me how m u c h
T h e s e v e n t h act, f r e s h m e n J e n n i e Alexander and Jeannette Johnson, sang their original composition " B l i n d e d " and won second place. "We didn't know about Talent Jam when we wrote 'Blinded,'" Johnson
There aren't many opportunities to
perform musical theatre pieces at
atmosphere she brought and how m u c h Ihey e n j o y e d h a v i n g h e r h o s t the e v e n t , " s a i d s o p h o -
| J
H o p e . I w a s able to g o all out with t h e
m u s j c
m o r e S t e v e M c B r i d e , A s s i s t a n t to the Special Chair. T r e f z g e r a l s o e n t e r t a i n e d the a u d i ence while music instructor Dave Purnell, admissions counselor Ismaria Medel, Special Programs Coordinator for International Education A m y Otis, a n d T i m J o h n of P a r a d i g m A r t i s t s d e c i d e d w h o w o u l d t a k e h o m e the awards. T h e f i r s t act that T r e f z g e r i n t r o d u c e d was sophomore Rebecca DeVries, who s a n g " D o n J u a n " f r o m the m u s i c a l " S m o k e y Joe's Cafe." She took home b e s t of s h o w f o r h e r p e r f o r m a n c e . "I s a w the m u s i c a l in N e w York a n d r e a l l y l i k e d the w a y it w a s d o n e , " D e V r i e s said. " T h e r e a r e n ' t m a n y o p p o r t u n i t i e s to p e r f o r m m u s i c a l t h e a t e r p i e c e s at H o p e . I w a s a b l e to g o all out w i t h the m u s i c in T a l e n t J a m . " Dr. B o b ' s W a i l i n g C e l l o e s , a c e l l o q u i n t e t c o m p o s e d of s e n i o r B e n G i b n e y , f r e s h m a n Laurel Holmquist, senior Lisa Hughes, sophomore Jamie Kempers, and junior Jedediah L e a c h m a n , received f i r s t p l a c e f o r t h e i r p e r f o r m a n c e of "Suite G a l a n t e " by Fred Bye.
jn T a | e n I
J a
^
cro DeUnes] said. " W e w r o t e it f o r us, a n d d e c i d e d to p e r f o r m it b e c a u s e w e t h o u g h t it w o u l d be a g o o d e x p e r i e n c e . " Third place recipient senior Jon Charnin performed a stand-up comedy r o u t i n e . O n e of his h i g h l i g h t s w a s i n s e r t i n g a Q - t i p into o n e nostril, then r e m o v i n g it. A c o u p l e m i n u t e s later, C h a r n i n r e m o v e d a Q - t i p f r o m the o t h e r nostril that h a d b e e n t h e r e d u r i n g his entire time on stage. " I ' d n e v e r b e e n in a T a l e n t J a m b e f o r e , " C h a r n i n said. "I j u s t h a d s o m e t h i n g s I w a n t e d to say. It w a s a lot of fun." Although four acts received awards f r o m the j u d g e s , f o u r o t h e r a c t s w e r e p e r f o r m e d : a lip s y n c , the t h e m e f r o m " T i t a n i c , " an o r i g i n a l c o m p o s i t i o n b y a five-person musical group, and a vocal duet. " T h e talent r e f l e c t e d a lot of d i f f e r e n t a s p e c t s a n d d i f f e r e n t g r o u p s of H o p e . It w a s a n i c e m i x , " C h a r n i n said. "I h o p e next y e a r ' s T a l e n t J a m h a s the s a m e t y p e of diversity."