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Fall 2018 · Torch:U.S. ·THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT
ENTERTAINMENT!
ENTERTAINMENT
THAT'S
Anika Park
NJCL Editor 2018-2019
It’s common knowledge among JCLers that there can never be a more perfect, bittersweet ending to an NJCL convention than That’s Entertainment. Besides General Assembly, That’s Entertainment is always the event with the greatest turnout where the audience ranges from diehard stage crew fans to supportive peers of the performers. Thursday night of convention was no exception as JCLers flooded Millett Hall, hoping to reach the best seats before everyone else. Those efforts definitely paid off because this year's That's Entertainment! was unlike ever before.
Cam Crowley from Texas set the bar high as the first act singing with his electric guitar. After Cam, Jeff Frenkel-Popel from California played the piano and hit us with an unexpected twist when he began to sing Não Existe Amor em SP in Portuguese. Next, Akhila Nataraj from Florida sang Hallelujah - a true classic. Throughout these soulful singing acts, the audience became a sea of flickering white lights as JCLers swayed their phones in the air to the slow beat. Then, Sophia Dort from Virginia played a John Williams piano medley, evoking a few cheers from the crowd mid-performance as JCLers recognized their favorite tunes from Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Jurassic Park.
After the series of more modern music, Owen Lockwood from Ohio paid tribute to the Romantic era of music with his stunning performance of Paganini's 9th Caprice on the violin. Next, Soren Adams from Kentucky sang Smooth by Santana with his guitar. Keon Honaryar then serenaded us, playing Dearly Beloved on the piano. Then, IL International, a dance troupe from Illinois, performed a mesmerizing medley of different cultural dances. Afterwards, James Sauls, only in middle school, shocked us with a cover of Like I'm Gonna Lose You; do not be fooled! His small package is no accurate indicator of his powerful voice.
The NJCL committee, officers, and NSCL board entertained us with the long-anticipated annual skits, erupting laughing across the entire hall. With content ranging from "freaking" to onesies, the hilarious skits just reminded us how much we will miss the leaving members of the executive board.
Kiana Hu from California continued the acts, playing the piano and singing Dido's Lament. After, Madelyn Bedard and Ruth Weaver from Massachusetts performed a lovely ukelele-singing duet of La Vie en Rose in French. Lastly, brothers Aric and Albert Ting from Georgia concluded the talent show with their violin-piano duet of Merry-go-round of Life.
Choosing only three winners must have been a nearly impossible task, but in the end, Soren Adams from Kentucky won third place, Owen Lockwood from Ohio won second, and Madelyn Bedard and Ruth Weaver from Massachusetts won first place. Congratulations to everyone who participated, and we all thank you for showing us that that's entertainment.
Left: SCL Skit
Top Right: Albert Ting and Aric Ting
Bottom Right: Madelyn Bedard and Ruth Weaver from Massachusetts, 1st place act
HERE TO WATCH FULL TE PLAYLIST