SCAD performers in a New York state of mind
Written by Kendyll Romine
Photo courtesy of SCAD Performance Ensemble Facebook
For many performers, life in New York City is the ultimate dream. So it seems fitting that the SCAD Performance Ensemble would end the year with a musical tribute to the city that never sleeps: “NYC: PE Takes a Bite out of the Big Apple.”
Or rather, it seemed to be a tribute – not to the city itself – but to the people of New York. All of the songs in the show, even if they didn’t name New York directly, were about the people who live in it, yearn for it, and (in some cases) hate it.
Whether it’s a dog walker, a waitress, or a charming barber shop-style quartet of construction workers, everyone had a story to tell and each performer delivered their stories with passion, sincerity, and of course, superb vocals.
Opening night’s audience seemed to love every moment of it, cheering rapturously from the first chords of the opening number (an energetic rendition of Taylor Swift’s “Welcome to New York”) to an upbeat “On Broadway” performed by the aforementioned construction worker quartet.
Talent flooded the stage of the Mondanaro Theater, and it’s hard to mention standouts, as every singer gave a star-worthy performance. Deanna Greif, second-year graduate performing arts major from Louisville, Colorado was both hilarious and heartfelt in an inner monologue about her crush at “Table 3.” Amber Hancock, fourth-year performing arts major from Trumbull, Connecticut delivered a tearful story of love and loss in “I’ll Be Here” that had the audience audibly gasping in sorrow.
The Konfidential Dance Team and fourth-year performing arts major from Fort Lauderdale, Florida Nathanial Myles’s choreography added great energetic flair to the group numbers, and the “NYC band” provided top-notch accompaniment for the vocalists. Special guest alumnus TJ Miller who graduated in 2014 helped to provide an emotional and soulful musical send-off to this quarter’s graduating seniors, encouraging them to follow their dreams. If this performance is any indication, dreams of success in the Big Apple are sure to come true.
