By Alex Lawrence, Staff Writer
For decades, the tradition that is the Key Club Follies talent show has come to be a great representation of all the qualities that embody Reynolds: heart, talent and diversity.
This year’s Follies emcees — Austin Sykes, Graham Young, John Haynie, James Tatter (and myself) — are all seniors and Key Club members. We have all been lucky enough to see firsthand the amount of work and creativity that it takes for a performance like this to come together. Emcee Graham Young noticed how different it is going to be to not be in the audience this year when the show begins Friday night at 7 in Reynolds Auditorium. Tickets are $5 at the door.
“Getting to see the show being put together piece by piece gives me a stronger appreciation for the show,” Young said. “It takes so much more work to do things back stage and to get all the little things right than one would think just watching the performance. Being an emcee puts me in a group with some of the guys that have gone through Reynolds. It really gives you an appreciation for the tradition.”
This year’s acts, listed below, have gone through countless hours of practice, been present for three days of full dress rehearsals, and all have their own creative twist that adds to the variety of the overall show. Senior Thomas Hatling partakes as one of the leaders of Acafellas and also plays his instruments in other acts.
“Follies can be stressful: Especially before auditions and the week leading up to it, you feel pretty stretched thin,” Hatling said. “I’m playing my guitar and mandolin in Follies this year. It’s exhilarating, and really fun, but I do still get really nervous with the Acafellas since I don’t get vocal as much, so I still do worry about messing up even though I’m in so many acts.”
Junior Rachel Kiger is no amateur when it comes to performing at Follies.
“I have performed in Follies for three years and have always loved it!” Kiger said. “It’s definitely nerve-racking, but it is a great experience getting to do something you love while participating in such a fun RJR tradition. I always try to pick out my song and choreography for my dance about a month or two before auditions, and then practice it as often as I can between then and the show to be sure I’ve got it down!”
While Follies performers continue to modernize and dive head first into their acts year after year, one thing about being a Follies performer never changes: You represent the prestige and tradition that your entire school stands for.
We as emcees developed a respect and connection with every emcee and performer of the past that we could not have possibly forged any other way — spending countless school nights out past midnight locked in the Tatter basement working on skits and having to film a video in the same clothes for a month while making edit after edit along the way. We can proudly say that this is the best performance that we could possibly put forward due to all of our hard work. In the end, having this opportunity to make our school proud is something we will never forget.
Follies Acts
- Thomas Hatling, Jonathan Grice, Matthew Grattan
- Lauryn Miller, Claire Hoke
- Chloe Clements
- Crucial Dynasty
- Ally O, Gracie, Virginia
- Kamryn King
- Color Guard
- R’yanah Tanchico
- Acafellas
- Rent
- Claire Hoke
- Rachel Kiger
- Syncopate
- Hannah Yarrison
- Winston Station
- “X”
- Dancing Boots