East School Variety Show

 

The Variety Show will consist of two shows on Thursday, April 10, 2025, one for each of the following age groups:

 

Kindergarten-2nd Grade Performance: 5:00 to 6:30 PM

3rd-4th Grade Performance: 7:30 to 9:00 PM

 

The East School Variety Show is an opportunity for East students to showcase their talents to the school community. The show runs in a talent show format, live onstage at the Saxe auditorium, with 4th grade emcees introducing each act. Our performers often play a musical instrument, sing a song or perform a dance routine, though we invite students to get creative - we want to see the diversity of talent we have here at East!

 

There is a lot of important information to cover - please read all the way through. You will find the following information on this page:

 

About East School Variety Show

 

  • All students are invited to participate. Participation is optional!
  • There will be two shows for the following age groups: K-2 and 3-4.
  • There is a participation fee of $20 per student (this is in lieu of an entrance fee for spectators).
  • Performers can choose to do one solo act OR one group act (up to 6 students in an act).
  • 4th grade students can register to be an emcee for the evening. We have 12 emcee spots. 4th graders may be either an emcee or in an act - not both.
  • The Variety Show is hugely popular with over 20 acts per show. It’s important that students are comfortable running through their act before performing in front of an audience.

 

Key Dates

 

  • Friday, February 14th - Registration Forms and Parental Consent Forms are due
  • Wednesday, March 5th at 7:30am - Emcee Showcase for 4th Grade Emcees
  • Friday, March 14th - Recorded music for all acts is due
  • Rehearsals (information regarding what is needed at rehearsal can be found below):
    • Grades K-2:
      • Wednesday, April 2nd: 3:30-6:00pm Tech rehearsal at East
      • Tuesday, April 8th: 3:45-6:00pm Dress rehearsal at Saxe
    • Grades 3-4:
      • Tuesday, April 1st: 3:30-6:00pm Tech rehearsal at East
      • Monday, April 7th: 3:45-6:00pm Dress rehearsal at Saxe
    • Emcee Line Read Through (for emcees only!):
      • Thursday, April 3rd: 7:30am at East for K-2 show emcees
      • Friday, April 4th: 7:30am at East for 3-4 show emcees
    • Thursday, April 10th: EAST SCHOOL VARIETY SHOW at Saxe
      • Grades K-2: 5:00-6:30pm (4:30pm arrival for performers)
      • Grades 3-4: 7:30-9:00pm (7:00pm arrival for performers)

 

Important Information

 

  • A student may be in one solo OR one group act. A student may NOT perform in two acts.
  • A student may not be in an act AND be an emcee.
  • We only have 12 spots for emcees and may need to resort to a lottery if we exceed that number. Please prepare your child for this.
  • Group acts can consist of no more than six (6) students.
  • Group acts comprised of students from multiple grades will only perform in one show, which will be determined at the discretion of the show directors.
  • Acts must not run longer than 90 seconds; shorter is fine, too!
  • Please no liquids or materials in your act that could make the stage slippery, dangerous or hard to clean between acts.
  • Each act must have a designated parent/guardian responsible for the child/children during each rehearsal and the final show. For group acts, this does not need to be the same person each time.
  • Attendance at all rehearsals for your show is mandatory.
  • Each student in an act must have a completed parental consent form to participate.
  • Have fun and be creative! Think about using inventive costumes and creative props. Give your act a fun/creative name.
  • Be sure to rehearse at home and be ready to perform at tech rehearsal.

 

Music Guidelines

 

  • Please ensure that music selections and the performance are age-appropriate. This is a show FOR children BY children. Please use good judgment.
  • If you have recorded music, please email the final version (maximum of 90 seconds) to Jenn Saldarelli at jenn.saldarelli@gmail.com by Friday, March 14th. We need to have the music in advance to prepare for the show.
  • Instrumental/karaoke versions are suggested for vocal performances.
  • Amazon is a good place to purchase MP3 song tracks (generally for a fee of around $1). We’ve found it’s easier to do this from a desktop browser instead of a mobile device.
  • https://clideo.com/cut-audio is a very easy website to cut a track down to 90 seconds or less. Convert.io is an easy site to convert any type of music file to an MP3.

 

Rehearsal Information

 

We are committed to making this show a wonderful experience for your child.  In order for everyone to be prepared, performers need to be present at all rehearsals. This will allow them to be comfortable on the stage, familiarize themselves with the music and lights, and the logistics of entering and exiting the stage.

 

Each act must have a designated parent/guardian responsible for the child/children during each rehearsal and the final show. For group acts, this does not need to be the same person each time. Once an act performs at tech rehearsal and dress rehearsal, they may leave with their designated adult.

 

If your child/group would like to stay to the end of rehearsal to run their act again, they are welcome but only after we have run through the entire show.

 

Please be prepared for your child to miss after-school activities on days of rehearsal and performance. Performers are making a commitment to Variety Show rehearsals and the performance when they register.

 

 

Rehearsal Dates

 

All Performers MUST attend all rehearsals.

 

 

Grades K-2 Dates:

 

Wednesday, April 2nd:  3:30 - 6:00pm - Tech Rehearsal - EAST SCHOOL GALLEY

All acts will perform with their selected music. We will rehearse on the stage and run each act in order and address any technical or prop requirements. Bring any props with you! Parents/guardians must choose “After School Activity - Variety Show” in School Dismissal Manager. Students will be dismissed to the Galley. One parent/guardian from each act must meet the act in the Galley and supervise the act during rehearsal. Acts can depart after they rehearse.

 

Tuesday, April 8th:  3:45 - 6:00pm - Dress Rehearsal - SAXE AUDITORIUM

We’ll run the show in costume, in order, with lights and music and rehearse the curtain call.  Students must be driven to Saxe and one parent/guardian from each group must stay until the act performs.  Acts can depart after they rehearse.  Transportation to Saxe is not provided!

 

Thursday, April 10th:  4:30 - 6:30pm - Performance - SAXE AUDITORIUM

Performers must be ready and in costume in the auditorium by 4:30pm.  The show starts at 5:00pm.

 

 

Grades 3-4 Dates:

 

Tuesday, April 1st:  3:30 – 6:00pm - Tech Rehearsal - EAST SCHOOL GALLEY

All acts will perform with their selected music. We will rehearse on the stage and run each act in order and address any technical or prop requirements. Bring any props with you! Parents/guardians must choose “After School Activity - Variety Show” in School Dismissal Manager. Students will be dismissed to the Galley. One parent/guardian from each act must meet the act in the Galley and supervise the act during rehearsal. Acts can depart after they rehearse.

 

Monday, April 7th:  3:45 – 6:00pm - Dress Rehearsal - SAXE AUDITORIUM

We’ll run the show in costume, in order, with lights and music and rehearse the curtain call.  Students must be driven to Saxe and one parent/guardian from each group must stay until the act performs.  Acts can depart after they rehearse.  Transportation to Saxe is not provided!

 

Thursday, April 10th:  7:00 - 9:00pm Performance - SAXE AUDITORIUM

Performers must be in costume and ready in the auditorium at 7:00pm.  The show begins at 7:30pm.

 

 

4th Grade Show Emcees

 

East 4th grade students serve as our emcees and are one of the reasons our show is so special. Emcees will be expected to read their assigned lines from our script (some memorization will be involved), sit quietly on stage while acts perform, and demonstrate a positive, enthusiastic and encouraging attitude. Our show is all about supporting one another and the emcees are the stewards of this to our audience.

 

This is a popular role and we are limited to 12 emcees (6 per show). Once registration closes, we may need to hold a lottery if we have more than 12 emcees registered.

 

Emcee Time Requirements:

 

  • Emcee Showcase - Wednesday, March 5th, 7:30am at East

This is an opportunity for the showrunners to get to know the emcees and assign them to a show. Emcees should come prepared with a short (no longer than 1 minute) “Welcome to the show” introduction/monologue.  More details will be sent to the emcees in advance of the showcase. 

  • Emcee Line Read Through
    • K-2 show emcees: Thursday April 3rd, 7:30am at East
    • 3-4 show emcees: Friday, April 4th, 7:30am at East

           

  • Dress Rehearsal
    • K-2 show emcees: Tuesday, April 8th, 3:45-6:00pm at Saxe
    • 3-4 show emcees: Monday, April 7th, 3:45-6:00pm at Saxe

 

  • Performance
    • K-2 show emcees: Thursday, April 10th, 4:30-6:30pm at Saxe
    • 3-4 show emcees: Thursday, April 10th, 7:00-9:00pm at Saxe

 

Other details:

  • Emcees will be assigned to either the K-2 or 3-4 show. If they have a sibling also in the show, we make our best effort to assign them to that show.
  • Attendance at the showcase, line read-through, dress rehearsal and the show is mandatory. Emcees do NOT need to attend the tech rehearsals on the afternoons of April 2nd and 3rd.
  • If your child is not selected in our Emcee Lottery, they are more than welcome to join an existing act or register as a solo act.
  • Email Jenn Saldarelli (saldarelli@gmail.com) with any questions.

 

Registration Instructions

 

  • There are two forms to complete:
    • Complete the online registration form (one registration for each ACT - group acts should designate one parent/guardian to complete this form for their group). Registrations are due by Friday, February 14th.
    • At time of registration, each participant must complete the parental consent form and pay the $20 participant fee (a parent/guardian for EVERY PARTICIPANT must complete this step!). Emcees should not complete this step until they’ve been notified that they’ve been selected as an emcee.
  • Turn in your pre-cut recorded music for each act by Friday, March 14th to Jenn Saldarelli at jenn.saldarelli@gmail.com. Songs must NOT exceed 90 seconds.
  • Parent Volunteers: This show cannot run without the help and support of our parent volunteers. A separate sign up genius will be sent out after registration closes asking for volunteers.