A group of Pottsville Area students took the stage Thursday afternoon to offer school officials a sample of the entertainment planned for the gala celebrating the high school's 80th anniversary.
Accompanied by high school music teacher Kim Rismiller on piano at the high school auditorium stage, nine high school students sang "Why We Tell The Story" from the Broadway musical "Once On This Island."
"Chins up. Smile," said Maria Malek, high school English teacher and Drama Club adviser, as she directed the group.
Tickets are still available for the event, slated for Dec. 15 at The Pottsville Club, with cocktails at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. The Pottsville Area High School 80th Anniversary Committee has been planning the event since August. As of Thursday, a group of 10 high school singers, eight high school alumni and the "Christmas Brass," a compliment of musicians from the high school band, are slated to perform.
More than 30 current students were auditioned to sing in the program and 10 were selected, Malek said.
"These are quality performers," Malek said.
They are: seniors, Christopher M. Circelli, Michael P. Halcovage Jr., Tyler A. Pangonis and Jacob B. Tarconish; juniors, Hannah G. Hench, Cassidy-Rose Munley and Carrollynn R. Schwent; and sophomores, Sierra S. Hoover, Allyssa Kovich, and Jaelynn L. Jackson.
"I think this is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the Drama Club and celebrate the traditions at the high school," Halcovage said.
"I like to sing and this is obviously a great opportunity to get your voice out there," Hoover said.
School board member Charles R. Wagner was there to offer support Thursday, as the students practiced in the auditorium.
Wagner, a member of the Pottsville Area Class of 1966, is heading up the anniversary committee. He's held a number of administrative posts at the high school, including principal from 1994 to 1996 and 2000 to 2005.
"Jacob won't tell you this but he was selected as the 'Outstanding Male Vocalist' at the Sovereign Majestic Awards in May. He needs an agent," Wagner said.
So far, the alumni Drama Club members scheduled to perform are Kayla Fehr, Class of 2005; Mindy Hoopes and Kaia Schroding, Class of 2007; Samantha Wood, Class of 2008; Meg Halcovage and Katie Shober, Class of 2010; and Catherine Nadeau and Morgan Rismiller, Class of 2012, Malek said.
"The alumni who are coming back, Kim Rismiller and I hand-chose them because of their talent and the performance experience they had after graduation," Malek said.
The high school band has a group of 13 musicians who play trumpet, French horn, tuba, trombone and baritone known as "The Christmas Brass," according to band director Craig Shoener.
It includes: seniors, Circelli, tuba; John Shoener, son of the band director, trumpet; Cassie Eagan, trumpet; and Katie Burke, French horn; juniors, Zach Sonon, trombone; Travis Dudash, trumpet; Ben Blake, trombone and Angelo Disabella, baritone; and sophomores, Jacob Shoener, son of the band director, trumpet; Rachel Setlock, trumpet; Olivia Connors, French horn; Anthony Cunningham, trombone and Autumn Minnich, trombone.
Mary Spehrley, Pottsville, a member of the Class of 1933, will also be performing at the event, leading everyone in a performance of the school's alma mater, Wagner said.
Superintendent Jeffrey S. Zwiebel, a 1986 graduate of Pottsville Area, was also there Thursday to hear the students practice.
Malek was not sure how many tickets have been sold so far for the event, but she said tickets are $50 per person and are available at the Howard S. Fernsler Academic Center. For more information, call the center at 570-621-2900.
"I think this is a great opportunity to raise money for the Drama Club and it's going to be a lot of fun for people to see us," Hench said.
"Any profits that we make are going towards the drama club's spring musical," Malek said.
"The Pottsville High School" building at 16th Street and Elk Avenue opened Jan. 3, 1933.