As the school year begins to settle in, the Performing Arts Department has been working hard for their first performances of the year.
The Warren Central choir groups will be the first to perform on Sept. 18. Brian Long is the head director of the choirs. He is excited about these performances hitting the stage because they get to hear how everyone sounds for the first time.
“It lets us know a little bit more about what we can expect to see and hear from them for the rest of the year,” Long said. “When you come to a WCChoirs concert, you can always expect there to be excellent music. The songs we have planned have their own message, and we will let the audience find their own message for themselves. Music speaks to each of us differently.”
As the choir groups anticipate their first performance, the Warren orchestra is also preparing its musical pieces. This long-awaited performance has been anticipated by many, including the director of this orchestra, Abraham Rittenhouse. The first performance is scheduled to take place on Oct. 1 at 6 p.m.
“We still have a decent ways away until the first concert, but I’m looking forward to it and I think it’ll be a great start to this new year,” Rittenhouse said. “I think that most of my students are dedicated, but it really comes down to who decides to work as a team. If we don’t work as a team, then we can’t reach our full potential as an ensemble.”
As the orchestra sorts out its admired music pieces, the Warren Central band is nearly ready to blow its audience away, with its first show also scheduled for Oct. 1 alongside the orchestra.
The Gold Brigade marching band and color guard have already been busy this summer preparing for shows at the home football games. This year’s theme for the Gold Brigade performance is entitled “Howl,” based on “Hungry Like The Wolf” by Duran Duran. Edward Meckes has been enjoying working with this group of people.
“We are excited for this new season, and the students are learning quickly,” Meckes said. “They have demonstrated a wide range of excellent performance skills.”
Although watching the performers take the stage – or the field – is amusing to many, some may be more curious about the behind-the-scenes of these shows. David Melton is the technical theatre director at Warren and is excited to work with these shows.
“Our band, choir and orchestra have been consistently getting better each year, and I look forward to seeing how they have grown,” Melton said. “We have some special things planned for our fall musical, 'Chicago.’ I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but it’s going to be visually exciting and different from the past shows we’ve done.”
Performances for “Chicago: Teen Edition” are Sept. 26 at 7 p.m., Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. and Sept. 28 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12, but students and staff members can purchase theirs for $10 on the Warren Performing Arts Center website.
“There are a lot of details that have to come together at the right moment,” Melton said. “Most of the time, if we have done our job well, by the time the curtain rises, all the hard work is done, and we can really enjoy ourselves on the stage and behind the scenes. Other times, it’s like herding cats on fire or in a tornado.”
In the end, Warren is ready for these performances to shine on stage. Each group is working hard to entertain their audiences and be the best performers they can be.