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Young performers sparkle onstage
By LORRI HELFAND, Times Staff Writer Talented young performers were stars for the day when they took the stage in The Stars Are Out at Ruth Eckerd Hall on Sunday. The show, presented by the Pinellas Association for Theatre Education, or PATE, and Ruth Eckerd Hall, showcased students from the county's public and private schools. It was an eclectic mix of more than 30 musical acts, pantomimes, monologues, ensemble scenes and lavish dance numbers. Students said they'll always remember the experience of performing at Ruth Eckerd Hall. "It's just a great feeling to see all those people out there. Just those two minutes that you're out there, it's the whole world," said Diane Marono, a Countryside High School senior. The Stars Are Out got its start nine years ago after county schools switched from seven to six periods a day, said Debra Barnum, PATE president and drama teacher at Dixie Hollins. Theater programs suffered because students couldn't fit as many electives into their schedules, and Barnum said she went from teaching 300 students to less than 100. "All (drama) sponsors sat back and said we have to do something to prove to the world that the arts are important for a complete education," she said. They decided to put on a student variety show. It worked. The program drew community attention and theater programs began to flourish again, Barnum said. Each year, the production pulls in about $2,000, which funds student scholarships. Sunday's performance of The Stars Are Out showcased students from a dozen local schools in classics such as Gee, Officer Krupke from West Side Story and All or Nothing from Oklahoma. Other acts were tongue-in-cheek. In Tiny Bubbles, girls from Seminole High strutted their stuff in bathing suits and hula skirts. They closed the number by jumping into the orchestra pit and performing a "water ballet" behind a turquoise banner. The kids from Perkins Magnet Center for the Arts sang a Gloria Gaynor-style tune called Wizard of Oz. There were also dramatic monologues and farcical scenes. Other aspects of theater were highlighted as well. Lobby displays included students' costume and publicity designs. Countryside High junior Tenille Stewart, who belted out Barbecue for Two from the musical comedy Das Barbecu, said she wants to be a singer, but that performing at Ruth Eckerd Hall is important in and of itself. "It's something to remember even if I don't grow up to be a singer," she said. Performers were selected by area acting coaches from students who performed at district theater competitions. Schools often have showcases, but the public rarely gets to see those talented students, said Ron Shaw, an event sponsor and drama teacher at Dunedin High. Sandy Cockrell, who retired as a drama teacher three years ago, puts together the event playbill. "I think it's important for the public to see what our schools are doing, that the arts are alive in Pinellas County," she said.
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From the Times North Pinellas desks |
