With what has become a tradition in and of itself, eager JCLers, SCLers, sponsors, and chaperones gathered in droves outside the Thompson-Boling Arena, lining up for a chance to snag a seat at 2024’s That’s Entertainment, an annual showcase of artistic talent within the JCL.
That’s Entertainment is organized by the SCL, who act as stage crew, hosts, and judges. This year’s hosts, SCLers Rachael Cox and Skyler McLeod of Florida, portrayed aspiring musical artists seeking their fortunes.
Acts opened with Ilina and Ishani Joshi of Wisconsin, who performed “Orange Blossom Special” in a violin duet. Bedecked in matching cowboy hats and boots, the pair stomped their feet while accompanied by a clapping crowd. An SCL skit portrayed the lives of domi delegates and touched on the unique difficulties they faced, from local wildlife to time zone calculations.
Tennessee JCLer Jia Do followed with “Asturias Leyenda” on the piano before hosts Cox and McLeod returned post-makeovers to choose their stage names. Ultimately, they settled on “SCLadies” and decided to form a new pop duo.
Eithan Ackerman of North Carolina performed “Wagon Wheel”, accompanying himself on the guitar. He invited audience members who knew the lyrics to sing along. Many waved their phone flashlights, cheering at his rendition of the classic country hit.
Hana Conte of Ohio sang “Lost in the Brass” of the musical Band Geeks, a heartfelt song discussing the feeling of being overlooked and excluded through the lens of woodwind players in a typical band setting.
Cox and McLeod then presented their new music video, “J-O-I-N S-C-L”, featuring SCLers from across the nation. The video encouraged graduating JCLers to maintain their connection with the world of the classics by joining the SCL and highlighted the contributions and benefits of the organization. Florida JCLer Henri Pelletier stunned the crowd into a standing ovation with dextrous manipulations of his diabolo, throwing, swinging, and catching the spinning prop.
The 2023-2024 NJCL officers followed his performance with a Inside Out-themed act eaturing officers as different emotions controlling President Krish Sharma in General Assembly I. SCLers then presented two skits: one incorporated elements of pop artist Taylor Swift’s musical eras into an officer meeting, and the other presented the trials and tribulations of an intern for fictional lawyer Joe Cicero, Esq.
Cox and McLeod reappeared, telling a tragic tale of the SCLadies’ dissolution before they acted out their heartfelt reconciliation and introduced the next two acts. Chelsea Xie of California danced to “A New World,” a spotlight illuminating her rhythmic movements. Illinois JCler Charlie Duggan then presented his original piece, “July.” Accompanying himself on the guitar, he described his song as depicting “the perfect summer romance [he] never had.”