VALDOSTA —
Gathered around a piano, Valdosta High School Theater Arts students sing “Thank You Very Much,” a song from the musical “Scrooge.” More importantly, it is a song they will sing during the opening Cabaret performance of the drama group’s season.
Though singing, this impromptu performance isn’t part of rehearsal. It is actually an interruption in practicing for the show.
The students don’t normally gather around the piano while director Ricardo Ipina plays the keyboards.
They have gathered in this sing-along position for a few photographs to promote the show.
So, Ipina doesn’t stop them.
Not for this song. He offers no commentary on the performance.
He simply asks them to sing and not block each others’ faces for the picture.
The students have fun with the song, with its tip-of-the-hat cadence: “Thank you very much! Thank you very much! That’s the nicest thing that anyone’s ever done for me/ I may sound Double-Dutch / But my delight is such / I feel as if a losing war’s been won for me / And if I had a flag I’d hang my flag out / To add a sort of final victory touch / But since I left my flag at home / I’ll simply have to say / Thank you very, very, very much!”
They sing this jaunty song with a giddy energy. If they keep this enthusiasm for the actual performances, this should be a fun show to attend.
The performances will be filled with Broadway tunes. “Just a Couple of Sisters” from “Nunsense.” “Maria” from “Sound of Music.” “Nothing Like a Dame” from “South Pacific.” “Summer Nights” from “Grease.” “If Mama Was Married” from “Gypsy.” “Maison de Lunes” from “Beauty and the Beast.”
VHS Theater Arts traditionally opens each season with the Fall Cabaret.
With its offerings of food and entertainment, it serves as a fundraiser for the school’s other productions later in the season. The show also gives Ipina a peek at the available talent each school year.
The Cabaret sets the tone from financing to talent in Ipina’s choices for the rest of the VHS Theater Arts season.
For the first time, in the past couple of years, Ipina may have more male talent for the shows. Several young men participate in 2010 Fall Cabaret.
THE CAST: Dyshianna Miller, Jamahri Johnson, Michael Settles, Clarence Strawder, Michael Gregory, Patrick Hilgert, Christie Jo Mayo, Hunter Pope, Jade Spikes, Charlene Ward, Hannah Findlay, Mychael Holmes, and Cathy Nguyen.
DIRECTION, CREW: Ricardo Ipina, director; William Mahoney, Ben Goddard, Kenny Gordon, Zach Goddard, Kushbu Patel, Tyler Neidhardt, John Haddin Jr., Elizabeth Alderman, crew.
Showtime
Valdosta High School Theater Arts presents 2010 Fall Cabaret
When: 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 12; 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 13.
Where: Valdosta High School Performing Arts Center, off North Forrest Street.
Tickets, reservations: $15, show and food. Advanced reservations are a must and should be made by Sept. 8. No tickets will be sold at the door. To reserve a ticket, e-mail Ricardo Ipina at vhsartsevents@yahoo.com; or tickets can be purchased from club members.
