Performers Grace Alexander and Claire O'Brien with hostess Reyna Baldwin before the show. photo by Skye Cline
Mr. Palmieri’s advanced theatere class created a two night event filled with singing and dancing.
On October 4th and 5th, Michael Palmieri’s theatre class put on a cabaret dubbed “Rey’s Place” after junior and hostess Reyna Baldwin in Thomas Jefferson’s Black Box theatre. The event itself was not one to miss. Students in Palmieri’s class took their skills to the stage for a night of singing and dancing.
Palmieri’s black box theatre is perfect for small, intimate shows like the cabaret, which was a creative outlet for all who were involved. “I really loved directing shows. I have some very talented people that are involved in different things but didn’t have time to commit to a play. Also, I like my advanced classes to be challenging,” explained Palmieri. This allowed for new techniques to be discovered and let students be a part of the advanced class to perfect their craft.
Each student had the opportunity to sing two songs spanning over various decades, including popular songs such as “Under the Bridge” by Red Hot Chili Peppers and “Thank You For the Music” by Abba. Students created scenes that sparked emotion through every song. “Performers chose their own songs which both allowed them to express some of their emotions through artists words. The choice of song selection was made up of songs either covered by famous artists or originals songs. Students also got to pick the style of the way they wanted to sing,” described Palmieri. This provided students with the freedom of self expression on and off the stage.
In addition to encouraging self expression, Palmieri’s advanced class puts students in an unfamiliar setting, which is a fun and rewarding experience. “The Cabaret taught me how to get out of my comfort zone. It was just a fun experience overall,” stated junior Claire O’ Brien. Getting on a stage in front of a room full of people can be nerve-wracking but it’s definitely a great way to push students to discover new opportunities. While it’s too early to tell if the TJ Cabaret will develop into a new tradition, Palmieri and his students sure hope it will be ingrained into TJ’s culture for many years to come.
