In the wise words of Hannah Montana, “Hello, New York!” On Oct. 24, our Canyon High School Theatre Department held their song and scene showcase “New York! New York!” It was presented at our Performing Arts Center and tickets were only $5.
The showcase began at 7 p.m., and given that it was only one hour long, there was no intermission. As mentioned, the showcase consisted of a mixture of songs and scenes, all relating back to New York. This performance was put on by the Theater Two class, and of course, our very own Drama teacher, Mr. Miller!
Personally, I loved the New York theme as it allowed for beautiful backdrops of the city. There were a variety of scenes that showcased all the different types of people who live in New York.
The opening song, “New York! New York!” sung by the company, was an amazing demonstration of the collection of people that can be found in the city. For example, there was a police officer, a businesswoman, bridesmaids, and many more characters who all had a story that was explored during the showcase.
The set designs and costumes were all well-thought-out. Many colorful outfits and sets included small details which helped bring the stories to life. Contrary to the bright set designs, there were also ones whose colors consisted of black and white, such as “Lonely Town” and “A View from the Bridge.” These were my favorite as they fit their story and provided a somber feeling which immersed me into the song and scene.
The acting was also very impressive. A scene that stood out to me was “Lost in Yonkers.” The actors did a wonderful job in portraying the characters. Isabel Verduzco played the role of a daughter, and her mother was played by Charlie Jackson. Both of these actors captured the emotional story of their characters beautifully. They embodied the harsh yet worrisome mother, and the daughter who did not come to ask for forgiveness but wanted to restore their relationship.
Humor was another thing the show did not lack. The scene “Five Women Wearing the Same Dress” had very entertaining dialogue. As the bridesmaid talked badly about the bride, the actors made the scene funny and lighthearted. Another hilarious scene was “Lobby Hero.” Both actors did an incredible job, and Adrian Rodriguez stood out to me with his character's dialogue, which I loved! Even while getting rejected by the female cop, he still managed to make the scene fun.
Everyone's voice and acting performances were beautiful. The singing that really caught my attention was that of Giselle Madera in “Come Up to My Place.” Her voice is so unique, and I love her tone. Without a doubt, she captivated the audience with her powerful singing.
Another actor that did incredible was Hailey Hubble. She sang “What More Do I Need” and could not have looked better on stage. Some actors make the stage look like it's their second home, and she is definitely one of them. Her performance was so lively that you could not help but smile as you watched her.
We cannot forget about the man that made all this possible. He too put on a show, a one man show, as he played the piano for every scene. His playing was incredible and he has an undeniable talent for the piano. Incredible work, Mr. Miller!
This was a delightful showcase, and it managed to captivate the entire audience from beginning to end. If you missed this show, Theatre Three is performing their show in November. Make sure to keep a look out for that, and I cannot wait to see you there!
