By Joe Wilson, Assistant Online Editor
Reynolds is a place of traditions, many dating back nearly a century. Among those is the Key Club Follies, an event hosted every year to showcase students’ talents.
On Friday, April 11, students and community members will continue that tradition. The 65th annual talent show hosted by the Key Club will take place at 7 p.m. in the Reynolds Auditorium.
Senior Thomas Bullock will be an emcee at this year’s Follies, along with Ellis Geary, Sami Lachgar, Dustin Sneed and Scott Tuttle, and the group is busy preparing for the event, which promises to be a great exhibition.
“I’m most excited about seeing all the talent and showcasing it,” Bullock said.
Key Club adviser John Clevenger is also looking forward to the event.
“The talent is good. It’s diverse,” Clevenger said. “There’s music, there are skits, there’s comedy.”
The list of performers contains perennial entertainers such as the Acafellas, Dancing Boots and Syncopate as well as newer groups like the a cappella group “X” and the RJR Steps Club. These will be accompanied by a host of student performances ranging from comedians to magicians that are sure to wow the crowd.
Junior William Ball, a member of the Acafellas, hopes to impress his classmates.
“I’m really excited to perform and hopefully it will be a good show,” Ball said.
A show as big as the Follies takes a lot of preparation from all parties.
“As emcees, we’re devoting most of our attention to the video,” Bullock said of the short that serves as an introduction to the show. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it and I think it will be pretty funny.”
The amount of rehearsal required can be a burden, which was evident when Seth Beale, one of the faculty coordinators of the event, had to make an emcee change just two days before this year’s Follies. Drew Fisch had to be replaced by Ellis Geary. It was decided that Fisch would not be able to make it to rehearsals due to conflicts with the schedule of the baseball team, of which he is a senior leader.
It is because of diligent management like this that Follies continues to be successful year after year.
“Mr. Beale and Mr. Clevenger are a big part, as well as Ed Thomas,” Bullock said. “They are in charge and we have to meet their demands.”
This is Clevenger’s first Follies as Key Club adviser, and he is learning from Beale, the former leader.
“Mr. Beale has basically been my mentor, showing me how to do my work,” he said. “We’ve had several meetings, two days of tryouts, judges’ meetings after spring break, and then rehearsals.”
All of this work is paying off as the show grows near, though.
“It’s a little hectic, but I think it will be good,” Clevenger continued.
Bullock recognizes the significance of the show as a piece of Reynolds history.
“It’s really special to the tradition of Key Club and we’re trying to hold that up,” he said.
Bullock was enthusiastic about the show, but he didn’t want to say too much about it. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $5, with proceeds helping fund many of the service projects Key Club does throughout the year. Kids 12 and under are admitted free.
“I don’t want to give everything away, but you can find out by coming,” Bullock said.