Kooky and spooky, it's Central's Addams Family
By Vanessa Tyson
It was just after 7 p.m. Thursday when the lights went out in at Central High School’s basketball court turned theater.
A crowd of about 250 waited with great anticipation.
The band began the overture for opening night of “The Addams Family,” a musical comedy presented by the school’s Performing Arts Department.
It was an evening of fascinating music, singing and dancing, which yielded lots of laughter and applause.
In the 1960s television series The Addams Family was a wealthy, eccentric family, which clashed with the rest of society.
Who can forget, “They’re creepy and they’re kooky; mysterious and spooky. They’re altogether ooky, The Addams Family.”
Thursday night was no different.
The musical had skilled actors and singers, made up in incredible costumes. The musicians were dressed in black. The props were creative.
In this particular episode, Gomez and Morticia Addams deal with their daughter, Wednesday, growing up and wanting to marry a young man, Lucas Beineke. Lucas is from a typical middle class family.
Wednesday gets her father to keep the secret that she is planning to get married from her overbearing mother until after a dinner with Lucas and his parents, Mal and Alice Beineke. Wednesday wants the family to have one normal night during the dinner.
Gomez struggles with the idea of not being completely honest with his wife. Wednesday’s
little brother, Pugsley, doesn’t like the idea of his sister getting married and not being around anymore to torment him.
The Ancestors appear and perform throughout the musical. Fester Addams, Grandma Addams and Lurch, the butler, add more humor to the show.
In the end, both families realize what they have in common—the love of family and a little bit of craziness.
Hannah McGuire, choral musical teacher for the school, and Geoffrey Mack, band director, coordinated the production.
The Cast
Gomez Addams – Carson Mack; Morticia Addams - Selena Funderburk; Wednesday Addams – Hope Savage; Fester Addams – Jadis Marsh; Pugsley Addams – Aidan Johnson; Grandma Addams – Regina Burgess-Cleary; Lurch – B.R. Hatcher; Mal Beineke – Addison Tice; Alice Beineke – Laura Porter; Lucas Beineke – Alex Martinez; Thing – Cody Haigler; Ancestors – Ny’ree Baker, Mesha Collins, Akira Fritz, Cameron Johns, Khloe King, Savannah Phillips and Izabella del Valle.
Technical support
Gavin Cook, Kessla Clark, Jaynia Duncan, Johnny Goodley, Cody Haigler, Makayla Kirkley, Monica Perez, Allyson Suyat and Ryan Wheeler.
The Crew
Stage manager – Cody Haigler; lighting designer – Ryan Wheeler; light operators – Gavin Cook, Makayla Kirkley, Allyson Suyat and Ryan Wheeler; sound board operator – Mr. Jason McGuire; hair – Monica Perez; makeup – Jaynia Duncan, Selena Funderburk, Johnny Goodley, Khloe King, and Laura Porter; set design – Mrs. Hannah McGuire; set construction – Mr. James Horton; set painting – Mrs. Jamie Barfield and Elijah Griffin; and publicity – Gavin Cook.
The Band
Geoffrey Mack – Conductor, Aleah Nicholson, Zoe Faulkenberry, Ariel Jordan, Hannah Wallace, Miah Threatt, Caitlyn Nicholson, Emily Lamere, Areli Perez, Ms. Diana Gomez, Justin Little, Frankie Rocha-Medellin, Quinn Caldwell, Katie Meade, Jackie Rocha-Medellin, Mr. Matthew Crawley, William Mosier, Hailey Lamere, Colton Capps, Kaylee Helms, Tyrek Shaw, Tyrone Gurganious, Mr. Blake Boulware and Ms. Gayle Mills.
It was just after 7 p.m. Thursday when the lights went out in at Central High School’s basketball court turned theater.
A crowd of about 250 waited with great anticipation.
The band began the overture for opening night of “The Addams Family,” a musical comedy presented by the school’s Performing Arts Department.
It was an evening of fascinating music, singing and dancing, which yielded lots of laughter and applause.
In the 1960s television series The Addams Family was a wealthy, eccentric family, which clashed with the rest of society.
Who can forget, “They’re creepy and they’re kooky; mysterious and spooky. They’re altogether ooky, The Addams Family.”
Thursday night was no different.
The musical had skilled actors and singers, made up in incredible costumes. The musicians were dressed in black. The props were creative.
In this particular episode, Gomez and Morticia Addams deal with their daughter, Wednesday, growing up and wanting to marry a young man, Lucas Beineke. Lucas is from a typical middle class family.
Wednesday gets her father to keep the secret that she is planning to get married from her overbearing mother until after a dinner with Lucas and his parents, Mal and Alice Beineke. Wednesday wants the family to have one normal night during the dinner.
Gomez struggles with the idea of not being completely honest with his wife. Wednesday’s
little brother, Pugsley, doesn’t like the idea of his sister getting married and not being around anymore to torment him.
The Ancestors appear and perform throughout the musical. Fester Addams, Grandma Addams and Lurch, the butler, add more humor to the show.
In the end, both families realize what they have in common—the love of family and a little bit of craziness.
Hannah McGuire, choral musical teacher for the school, and Geoffrey Mack, band director, coordinated the production.
The Cast
Gomez Addams – Carson Mack; Morticia Addams - Selena Funderburk; Wednesday Addams – Hope Savage; Fester Addams – Jadis Marsh; Pugsley Addams – Aidan Johnson; Grandma Addams – Regina Burgess-Cleary; Lurch – B.R. Hatcher; Mal Beineke – Addison Tice; Alice Beineke – Laura Porter; Lucas Beineke – Alex Martinez; Thing – Cody Haigler; Ancestors – Ny’ree Baker, Mesha Collins, Akira Fritz, Cameron Johns, Khloe King, Savannah Phillips and Izabella del Valle.
Technical support
Gavin Cook, Kessla Clark, Jaynia Duncan, Johnny Goodley, Cody Haigler, Makayla Kirkley, Monica Perez, Allyson Suyat and Ryan Wheeler.
The Crew
Stage manager – Cody Haigler; lighting designer – Ryan Wheeler; light operators – Gavin Cook, Makayla Kirkley, Allyson Suyat and Ryan Wheeler; sound board operator – Mr. Jason McGuire; hair – Monica Perez; makeup – Jaynia Duncan, Selena Funderburk, Johnny Goodley, Khloe King, and Laura Porter; set design – Mrs. Hannah McGuire; set construction – Mr. James Horton; set painting – Mrs. Jamie Barfield and Elijah Griffin; and publicity – Gavin Cook.
The Band
Geoffrey Mack – Conductor, Aleah Nicholson, Zoe Faulkenberry, Ariel Jordan, Hannah Wallace, Miah Threatt, Caitlyn Nicholson, Emily Lamere, Areli Perez, Ms. Diana Gomez, Justin Little, Frankie Rocha-Medellin, Quinn Caldwell, Katie Meade, Jackie Rocha-Medellin, Mr. Matthew Crawley, William Mosier, Hailey Lamere, Colton Capps, Kaylee Helms, Tyrek Shaw, Tyrone Gurganious, Mr. Blake Boulware and Ms. Gayle Mills.
Central High School performs a Rodgers and Hammerstein classic
On April 21-22, Central High School performed Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic musical “Oklahoma!”
Performances took place each night in Central High School’s gym to wonderful audiences. This performance was made possible by many groups in the school who pulled together.
Chorus students sang and performed roles, band students provided the music, art students painted backdrops and set pieces, building construction students built barns and houses, and community members donated funds for items needed as well as donated prop pieces.
Performances took place each night in Central High School’s gym to wonderful audiences. This performance was made possible by many groups in the school who pulled together.
Chorus students sang and performed roles, band students provided the music, art students painted backdrops and set pieces, building construction students built barns and houses, and community members donated funds for items needed as well as donated prop pieces.
Eagles got talent
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By KEVIN SMITH For the Progressive Journal
The Central High Chorus group presented a talent show on Friday, organized by Hannah McGuire, chorus music director. “The talent show is a great way to allow students, who maybe don’t excel at sports or maybe don’t excel academically, a way to shine,” McGuire said. “Also, it brings the students together as they cheer on fellow classmates, and as they appreciate each other’s unique abilities. It’s so much more than just fun and entertainment.” Eight students, ranging from freshman to senior, competed in the show, which featured original music, vocal and musical performances, and deejaying. Contestants were judged on originality/creativity, poise/presentation, tone/pitch/rhythm and audience appeal. Judges were coach Eddie Rivers, a Central High social studies teacher; this reporter; and Kenesha Smith, business education teacher. Nearly the entire Central High student body attended. “It was a great experience to compete in my last talent show as a Central Eagle,” said Megan Nicholson, a senior and second-place winner. “I was so happy that I got to share my song with some of my closest friends, as well as my teachers. It felt almost euphoric hearing so many cheers of support in the crowd. It’s definitely a moment of my life I’ll never forget.” Nicholson is in first place in the online 2017 This School’s Got Talent, a contest featuring students from all over the country. Final results in the tight judging resulted in a first-place win for Mason Horne; and a third-place prize to Laura Porter. Winners received a cash prize. “What a talented group of young people. I enjoyed all of them. Congratulations to the winners,” Smith said. Next up for the Central High Chorus is a live performance of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma” at 7 p.m. April 22-22 in the Central High gym. The following is list of each contestant, their class and their talent:
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Central High's 'Little Shop of Horrors' is to die for
“Feed me, Seymour.”
“I can’t,” says Seymour.
“I’m starving,” yells Audrey II.
“I’ve got an idea: I’m gonna go down to Schmedrick’s and pick you up some nice chopped sirloin.”
“Must...be...blood.”
My first introduction to the Little Shop of Horrors was the 1986 film version starring Rick Moranis as Seymour, Ellen Greene, and Levi Tubbs as the blood drinking Audrey II.
The original Little Shop of Horrors was a shoestring budget 1960 film by B-Movie king, Roger Corman. Although the film couldn’t find distribution other than being attached as a double feature to other unpopular films, it did manage to help launch the career of Jack Nicholson, as well as build a cult following over the years.
In the early 80’s, Alen Menken and Howard Ashman (Disney’s Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin) would reimagine it as a musical that played on off-Broadway for five years, making it the third longest running off-Broadway production in history at the time.
“Twoey that’s disgusting.”
“Must be freeeeessshh.”
“Feed me!”
“Does it have to be human?”
This past Friday and Saturday, the Central High School chorus staged “Little Shop of Horrors” to a nearly packed house each night, where meek little floral shop assistant, Seymour Krelborn, caves to the pressures of the blood thirsty plant, Audrey II. Having been offered fame, fortune, and – most importantly – the girl of his dreams, Seymour finds fresh victims to satisfy the plant’s insatiable appetite for human blood.
“I danced. We had some big dance numbers and I don’t dance at all so that was a challenge for me – learning the steps and counts and all,” said John Lynn, who played the lead role of Seymour. “I’m excited to see how this will jumpstart the program at Central High. I mean, we have gotten so many other groups involved and it’s amazing how everyone has come together on this.”
“What is cooler than a man-eating plant?” said Laura Porter, who played Ronnette, one of the singing narrators of the musical. “I enjoy being able to meet new people and have fun. I’m living a smaller version of my dream and I think that is amazing. We have an amazing director to teach us and guide us through, along with the many others that have made this production as amazing as it is.”
The director is Hannah McGuire, Central High choral director. McGuire has imagined a musical at Central for more than eight years, but was impeded by budget constraints. Those restraints were removed once Pageland native, Tony Award winning actress and cast member of “The Hunger Games,” Patina Miller, fully funded the initial estimated cost of the production.
“I saw Mrs. McGuire’s request and read what she was asking for. I saw that it was a musical and that it was ‘Little Shop,’” said Miller. “Mrs. McGuire said she wanted to help these kids who have dreams of being actors, actresses and singers. They just need people to tell them they can do it, that it is possible.”
Additional production costs were provided through grants, personal donations and ticket sales. Several props and stage equipment are on loan from community members and businesses, and the Audrey II puppet was rented from the Catawba College of Salisbury, made possible by a grant from Adam Foard of Adam Foard Law.
“You eat blood, Audrey II, let’s face it. How am I supposed to feed you? Kill people?” Seymour asks.
“I’ll make it worth your while. You didn’t have nothin’ ‘til you met me. Come on, boy, what will it be?” Audrey II answers.
Central High once performed a musical every year, but that stopped 20 years ago. McGuire hopes to start the tradition again and allow students to participate in the art of music and theater.
And it’s not just for the kids who want to be center stage, it’s for all the behind-the-scenes roles, too.
“We had art students paint the sets,” said McGuire. “Building construction students built sets and any other pieces we needed. Band students will be providing the music, chorus students will be singing, our computer classes designed our programs and tickets, and our agriculture class even donated some plants and potting soil and things like that for the flower shop. The students have been working really hard on it, and it has brought probably three quarters of our school together in some way.”
Seymour paces back and forth while he considers Audrey II’s proposal: Simply feed him fresh humans on a routine basis and get everything your heart desires, including Audrey (girl of his dreams, remember?). For those of you who’ve never seen the movies or musical, Audrey II, a talking plant, grows bigger as he feeds on more and more blood.
“The Audrey II puppets come in four stages,” explained McGuire. “The first stage is quite small and looks like a potted plant. The second stage is a slightly larger hand puppet; the third stage is large enough for someone to be inside of it working the mouth and kicking its legs; and the fourth stage is actually so large that it was able to eat people on the stage.”
Singing. Dancing. Blood. And people being eaten on stage. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend a Friday or Saturday night.
“I don’t know anybody who deserves to get chopped up and fed to a hungry plant,” yells Seymour.
“Sure you do,” replies Audrey II.
“Little Shop of Horrors” played at the Central High gym on Friday and Saturday. Despite the seemingly dark subject matter, it is actually a light-hearted, fun and family-friendly musical.
The cast included John Lynn (Seymour Krelborn); Miah Threatt (Audrey); Katie Starling (Crystal); Laura Porter (Ronnette); Hope Savage (Chiffon); Hannah McGuire (Mrs. Mushnik); Alex Martinez (Orin Scrivello); Dara O’Neal (Mrs. Bernstein/Mrs. Luce/Mrs. Martin/WSKID Radio Announcer); Scot McManus (Agent Skip/Customer); and Master Sergeant Kelty (voice of Audrey II).
“I can’t,” says Seymour.
“I’m starving,” yells Audrey II.
“I’ve got an idea: I’m gonna go down to Schmedrick’s and pick you up some nice chopped sirloin.”
“Must...be...blood.”
My first introduction to the Little Shop of Horrors was the 1986 film version starring Rick Moranis as Seymour, Ellen Greene, and Levi Tubbs as the blood drinking Audrey II.
The original Little Shop of Horrors was a shoestring budget 1960 film by B-Movie king, Roger Corman. Although the film couldn’t find distribution other than being attached as a double feature to other unpopular films, it did manage to help launch the career of Jack Nicholson, as well as build a cult following over the years.
In the early 80’s, Alen Menken and Howard Ashman (Disney’s Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin) would reimagine it as a musical that played on off-Broadway for five years, making it the third longest running off-Broadway production in history at the time.
“Twoey that’s disgusting.”
“Must be freeeeessshh.”
“Feed me!”
“Does it have to be human?”
This past Friday and Saturday, the Central High School chorus staged “Little Shop of Horrors” to a nearly packed house each night, where meek little floral shop assistant, Seymour Krelborn, caves to the pressures of the blood thirsty plant, Audrey II. Having been offered fame, fortune, and – most importantly – the girl of his dreams, Seymour finds fresh victims to satisfy the plant’s insatiable appetite for human blood.
“I danced. We had some big dance numbers and I don’t dance at all so that was a challenge for me – learning the steps and counts and all,” said John Lynn, who played the lead role of Seymour. “I’m excited to see how this will jumpstart the program at Central High. I mean, we have gotten so many other groups involved and it’s amazing how everyone has come together on this.”
“What is cooler than a man-eating plant?” said Laura Porter, who played Ronnette, one of the singing narrators of the musical. “I enjoy being able to meet new people and have fun. I’m living a smaller version of my dream and I think that is amazing. We have an amazing director to teach us and guide us through, along with the many others that have made this production as amazing as it is.”
The director is Hannah McGuire, Central High choral director. McGuire has imagined a musical at Central for more than eight years, but was impeded by budget constraints. Those restraints were removed once Pageland native, Tony Award winning actress and cast member of “The Hunger Games,” Patina Miller, fully funded the initial estimated cost of the production.
“I saw Mrs. McGuire’s request and read what she was asking for. I saw that it was a musical and that it was ‘Little Shop,’” said Miller. “Mrs. McGuire said she wanted to help these kids who have dreams of being actors, actresses and singers. They just need people to tell them they can do it, that it is possible.”
Additional production costs were provided through grants, personal donations and ticket sales. Several props and stage equipment are on loan from community members and businesses, and the Audrey II puppet was rented from the Catawba College of Salisbury, made possible by a grant from Adam Foard of Adam Foard Law.
“You eat blood, Audrey II, let’s face it. How am I supposed to feed you? Kill people?” Seymour asks.
“I’ll make it worth your while. You didn’t have nothin’ ‘til you met me. Come on, boy, what will it be?” Audrey II answers.
Central High once performed a musical every year, but that stopped 20 years ago. McGuire hopes to start the tradition again and allow students to participate in the art of music and theater.
And it’s not just for the kids who want to be center stage, it’s for all the behind-the-scenes roles, too.
“We had art students paint the sets,” said McGuire. “Building construction students built sets and any other pieces we needed. Band students will be providing the music, chorus students will be singing, our computer classes designed our programs and tickets, and our agriculture class even donated some plants and potting soil and things like that for the flower shop. The students have been working really hard on it, and it has brought probably three quarters of our school together in some way.”
Seymour paces back and forth while he considers Audrey II’s proposal: Simply feed him fresh humans on a routine basis and get everything your heart desires, including Audrey (girl of his dreams, remember?). For those of you who’ve never seen the movies or musical, Audrey II, a talking plant, grows bigger as he feeds on more and more blood.
“The Audrey II puppets come in four stages,” explained McGuire. “The first stage is quite small and looks like a potted plant. The second stage is a slightly larger hand puppet; the third stage is large enough for someone to be inside of it working the mouth and kicking its legs; and the fourth stage is actually so large that it was able to eat people on the stage.”
Singing. Dancing. Blood. And people being eaten on stage. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend a Friday or Saturday night.
“I don’t know anybody who deserves to get chopped up and fed to a hungry plant,” yells Seymour.
“Sure you do,” replies Audrey II.
“Little Shop of Horrors” played at the Central High gym on Friday and Saturday. Despite the seemingly dark subject matter, it is actually a light-hearted, fun and family-friendly musical.
The cast included John Lynn (Seymour Krelborn); Miah Threatt (Audrey); Katie Starling (Crystal); Laura Porter (Ronnette); Hope Savage (Chiffon); Hannah McGuire (Mrs. Mushnik); Alex Martinez (Orin Scrivello); Dara O’Neal (Mrs. Bernstein/Mrs. Luce/Mrs. Martin/WSKID Radio Announcer); Scot McManus (Agent Skip/Customer); and Master Sergeant Kelty (voice of Audrey II).
Pageland native helps Central High chorus program
Mrs. Hannah McGuire, choral director at Central High School, has been a teacher at Central for eight years. For years she has envisioned putting on a school musical, but due to budgetary constraints, lack of interest, support, or help, it was never pursued. This year, Central's fine arts department will be putting on the musical "Little Shop of Horrors."It is a combined school effort with art students creating backdrops, the band performing the accompaniment, the choir forming the ensemble, and building construction building sets. As one can imagine it is a big undertaking and many supplies are needed. With very little funding on hand, Mrs. McGuire turned to DonorsChoose.org to request materials needed for the musical. Unsure of how successful such a venture would be, it seemed worth a shot. On November 11th, just 2-3 days after posting the project, she received an email stating that the entire project had been funded by Pageland's own Broadway star, Patina Miller. Patina messaged with the following quote: "I'm giving because my hope is that you, Mrs. McGuire will inspire your students to be who they want to be. Acting/Musical theatre is my life and its afforded me any wonderful experiences that I hope your students get to experience someday if they choose to go down this path!" Thank you, Patina Miller, for supporting the work we are doing at Central and being such a great role model for our arts students and representative of our town! Because of this generous gift, we now have the materials needed to make this dream a reality. "Little Shop of Horrors" will be performed April 29-30th at 7 p.m. at Central High School's gymnasium.
McGuire is Central's Teacher of the Year
Making learning fun and building strong relationships with students are two primary focuses for Central High School’s Hannah McGuire.
McGuire, who has taught chorus at CHS for the last six years, was recently nominated by her peers as the school’s teacher of the year.
“I’ve enjoyed working with her over this time and watching her grow as a teacher,” said CHS principal, Judd Starling. “She is both a gifted teacher and artist.”
McGuire is a native of Wingate, N.C. and graduated from Wingate University with a major in musical performance, before receiving her teaching license through the PACE program. Central is the first school
at which McGuire has taught.
“Working at Central is awesome,” McGuire said. “The students here are respectful, humble and sweet. We don’t deal with nearly the discipline problems that other schools do. The students here genuinely seem interested in learning and doing the best.”
McGuire is doing her part to keep encouraging students to achieve their goals and push themselves forward.
“I try to really have a relationship with the students and get to know them,” McGuire said. “You have to let them know that you care and are really interested in them. My first year, I made a big push to be this sort of disciplinarian, but I realized quickly you don’t have to do that. You can still be yourself and be a good teacher.”
Over her time at the school, McGuire has tripled the participation in the chorus program at Central, averaging 60 students every year. Students have participated in programs such as the University of South Carolina Honor Choir and are working toward participating in competitions. McGuire has also pushed her students to expand their interests.
“Each year we take the students to see some sort of opera or musical. We went and saw ‘Sweeney Todd’ in Matthews, and the kids loved it,” McGuire said. “Some of the students have even become interested in drama and have started a petition to get a drama group at Central.”
The school has also revived an old program, The Eagletones – a show choir/acapella group that had not had a presence at the school for many years. The group will have its first performance at the chorus’s spring concert on March 18.
McGuire admits that the rise in interest in chorus and show choirs may be attributed to television shows like “Glee” and the popularization of performance arts in the media.
“When I first started at Central, we didn’t have a lot of boys participating,” McGuire said. “Now the program has really grown, and I do think that has a lot to do with things like ‘Glee,’ and some of the strong male country and R&B singers out there now.”
She said one of the biggest benefits of working with a program like the chorus is the continuity.
“I really like having the same students year after year and watching them grow and mature as musicians,” McGuire said. “You might get a student that was so shy as a freshman grow to become a soloist or section leader by their junior year.”
As teacher of the year, McGuire will serve as a liaison for the school and the county teacher forum and will also be in the running for district teacher of the year.
McGuire – whose husband, Jason McGuire, is also a teacher at CHS – continues to enjoy her job at Central and in the district.
“I’m lucky to have such great students and to work in a district that has consistently supported the arts,” McGuire said.
McGuire, who has taught chorus at CHS for the last six years, was recently nominated by her peers as the school’s teacher of the year.
“I’ve enjoyed working with her over this time and watching her grow as a teacher,” said CHS principal, Judd Starling. “She is both a gifted teacher and artist.”
McGuire is a native of Wingate, N.C. and graduated from Wingate University with a major in musical performance, before receiving her teaching license through the PACE program. Central is the first school
at which McGuire has taught.
“Working at Central is awesome,” McGuire said. “The students here are respectful, humble and sweet. We don’t deal with nearly the discipline problems that other schools do. The students here genuinely seem interested in learning and doing the best.”
McGuire is doing her part to keep encouraging students to achieve their goals and push themselves forward.
“I try to really have a relationship with the students and get to know them,” McGuire said. “You have to let them know that you care and are really interested in them. My first year, I made a big push to be this sort of disciplinarian, but I realized quickly you don’t have to do that. You can still be yourself and be a good teacher.”
Over her time at the school, McGuire has tripled the participation in the chorus program at Central, averaging 60 students every year. Students have participated in programs such as the University of South Carolina Honor Choir and are working toward participating in competitions. McGuire has also pushed her students to expand their interests.
“Each year we take the students to see some sort of opera or musical. We went and saw ‘Sweeney Todd’ in Matthews, and the kids loved it,” McGuire said. “Some of the students have even become interested in drama and have started a petition to get a drama group at Central.”
The school has also revived an old program, The Eagletones – a show choir/acapella group that had not had a presence at the school for many years. The group will have its first performance at the chorus’s spring concert on March 18.
McGuire admits that the rise in interest in chorus and show choirs may be attributed to television shows like “Glee” and the popularization of performance arts in the media.
“When I first started at Central, we didn’t have a lot of boys participating,” McGuire said. “Now the program has really grown, and I do think that has a lot to do with things like ‘Glee,’ and some of the strong male country and R&B singers out there now.”
She said one of the biggest benefits of working with a program like the chorus is the continuity.
“I really like having the same students year after year and watching them grow and mature as musicians,” McGuire said. “You might get a student that was so shy as a freshman grow to become a soloist or section leader by their junior year.”
As teacher of the year, McGuire will serve as a liaison for the school and the county teacher forum and will also be in the running for district teacher of the year.
McGuire – whose husband, Jason McGuire, is also a teacher at CHS – continues to enjoy her job at Central and in the district.
“I’m lucky to have such great students and to work in a district that has consistently supported the arts,” McGuire said.
Central High chorus performs
On Nov. 15 Central High School’s Mixed Chorus and Honors Chorus traveled to Charlotte to perform at The Park for the Southern Christmas Show. They sang several holiday favorites from “Carol of the Bells” to “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” and new favorites like “Mistletoe” by Justin Bieber.
Crowds gathered to hear these choirs bring Christmas cheer through music, with over 100 people in attendance.
The choir, which is led by Mrs. Hannah McGuire, were also featured at the Jefferson Tree Lighting Ceremony Dec. 7
Crowds gathered to hear these choirs bring Christmas cheer through music, with over 100 people in attendance.
The choir, which is led by Mrs. Hannah McGuire, were also featured at the Jefferson Tree Lighting Ceremony Dec. 7
Central High hosts senior citizens
The band room at Central High School was transformed into an elegant bistro on Dec. 6 as the school hosted over 130 area senior citizens for the annual Senior Citizens Day.
Visiting senior citizens of the community was entertained by the Central High Chorus and by the children of the Eagles’ Nest child development center, both of whom performed Christmas songs.
Other activities included games and a luncheon.
Upon arriving at the school, the visiting seniors were escorted inside by the student council and by Junior ROTC cadets. Members of the student council also helped serve the meal.
The Central High FFA presented a gift of collard greens to each of the visitors as they left, and the seniors also had the opportunity to have their photo taken with Santa in a photo booth. Santa and his elf were played by two Central High students.
Central High Principal Dr. Judd Starling said that this day is his second favorite day of the school year, exceeded only by graduation.
“It is always great to see our students give back to the community that gives so much to our school,” says Starling.
This year’s event marked the seventh such Senior Citizens Day at Central.
Starling added his thanks to Nelda Richardson, Rhonda Miles, Karen Aldridge, Nikki Miller, Katie Cooper, and Barbara Barrett for organizing and setting up the day’s events.
“This was a salute to our senior citizens to show our appreciation for all they have done in our communities,” says Miller. “I am looking forward to what is in store next year.”
Visiting senior citizens of the community was entertained by the Central High Chorus and by the children of the Eagles’ Nest child development center, both of whom performed Christmas songs.
Other activities included games and a luncheon.
Upon arriving at the school, the visiting seniors were escorted inside by the student council and by Junior ROTC cadets. Members of the student council also helped serve the meal.
The Central High FFA presented a gift of collard greens to each of the visitors as they left, and the seniors also had the opportunity to have their photo taken with Santa in a photo booth. Santa and his elf were played by two Central High students.
Central High Principal Dr. Judd Starling said that this day is his second favorite day of the school year, exceeded only by graduation.
“It is always great to see our students give back to the community that gives so much to our school,” says Starling.
This year’s event marked the seventh such Senior Citizens Day at Central.
Starling added his thanks to Nelda Richardson, Rhonda Miles, Karen Aldridge, Nikki Miller, Katie Cooper, and Barbara Barrett for organizing and setting up the day’s events.
“This was a salute to our senior citizens to show our appreciation for all they have done in our communities,” says Miller. “I am looking forward to what is in store next year.”
Central High School Chorus continues active year
This year has been an especially busy year for Central High School’s choral department. With the addition of new ensembles, acquiring new performance attire, traveling to the Southern Christmas Show, participating in Pageland’s Festival of Lights Parade, putting on four different concerts, traveling to Charlotte to see Opera Carolina’s performance of “Madame Butterfly,” to New Heights to sing for the middle school students, and most recently to Wingate University, students have really been on the go.
On March 2t, students traveled to Wingate University to get an up-close look at what the university has to offer. Students took a tour of the campus, enjoyed a question and answer session with admissions officers, a complimentary lunch at the school’s all you can eat buffet, and sat in on a rehearsal with the Wingate University Singers ensemble with director Dr. Kenney Potter.
Students enjoyed warming up and rehearsing with the university students, sight-singing some of the ensemble’s recent pieces, and learning a traditional South African freedom song and the accompanying movements. Central’s choral department’s last performance will be on May 22 at 6:30 p.m. in the commons area of the school. Also performing will be Central High School’s band. The concert will feature songs from Broadway, opera, and film. Concert to include favorites from the musical Dreamgirls, hits like “Can’t Take My Eyes off of You” “December 1963” and “Stay” from Jersey Boys, selections from Pirates of the Caribbean and Carmen.
Admission is free.
Central High Music
By Bill Moss
Central High's Concert Choir performs during the Christmas program at the school on Dec. 16. Featured were the Concert Choir and Mixed Chorus directed by Hannah McGuire and the Concert Band under Larry Farr.
Central singers perform "Night of Glee."
By Casey Outen
Special to the Progressive Journal
An appreciative audience of family and friends filled the Central High School gymnasium on Tuesday night to watch two of the high school’s choral groups perform “A Night of Glee.”
People lined the gymnasium walls to watch the Mixed and Concert Choirs in a musical performance that included selections from the hit television show Glee. The two groups performed a variety of songs, including a mash-up of pop singer Beyonce’s “Halo” and “Walking on Sunshine,” by Katrina and the Waves, “Don’t Rain on my Parade,” by Barbra Streisand and eight other uplifting numbers.
Central choir director for three years, Hannah McGuire has a knack selecting songs that appeal to a variety of musical tastes and allow parents and students to sing along. Children, some seated in their parent’s laps others seated in close proximity, waved their hands in the air with electronic devices such as cameras, cell phones, and even the lighter application that comes on some iPods in place of lighters themselves.
“Though anyone can join in the class,” McGuire said, “we have tryouts just so we know that everything will… work out.” As shown by the crowd’s reaction, the choir has everything “worked out” just fine. Not only did the audience enjoy the performance, the students enjoyed putting it on as well.
The best part of being in choir is “singing with friends and learning new music,” Monique Little said. “The choreography is just easy enough to make it fun.”
So, students, teachers, and parents enjoyed a night of glee, after all. Being the first performance this year, the choir has gotten off to a good start. The choruses’ next performance will be during the second semester.
An appreciative audience of family and friends filled the Central High School gymnasium on Tuesday night to watch two of the high school’s choral groups perform “A Night of Glee.”
People lined the gymnasium walls to watch the Mixed and Concert Choirs in a musical performance that included selections from the hit television show Glee. The two groups performed a variety of songs, including a mash-up of pop singer Beyonce’s “Halo” and “Walking on Sunshine,” by Katrina and the Waves, “Don’t Rain on my Parade,” by Barbra Streisand and eight other uplifting numbers.
Central choir director for three years, Hannah McGuire has a knack selecting songs that appeal to a variety of musical tastes and allow parents and students to sing along. Children, some seated in their parent’s laps others seated in close proximity, waved their hands in the air with electronic devices such as cameras, cell phones, and even the lighter application that comes on some iPods in place of lighters themselves.
“Though anyone can join in the class,” McGuire said, “we have tryouts just so we know that everything will… work out.” As shown by the crowd’s reaction, the choir has everything “worked out” just fine. Not only did the audience enjoy the performance, the students enjoyed putting it on as well.
The best part of being in choir is “singing with friends and learning new music,” Monique Little said. “The choreography is just easy enough to make it fun.”
So, students, teachers, and parents enjoyed a night of glee, after all. Being the first performance this year, the choir has gotten off to a good start. The choruses’ next performance will be during the second semester.
It's not too late to join chorus!!!!
If you or someone you know would like/needs to be in chorus, it's not too late to make that happen. If you can't fit it into your schedule see Mrs. McGuire!!! We are looking for more singers for next semester and would love for you to sign up!
