LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. 一 Bright lights shine, illuminating you as you make your way to the PAC stage to perform. No, this is not your fantasy of finally basking in the spotlight; it could be your new reality at Los Alamitos High School’s upcoming talent show.
Hosted by LAHS Interact Club, the annual talent show is the perfect opportunity for motivated students to showcase their hidden (or visible) talents. The application deadline is next Friday, March 14 and is open to all students (if in a group, only one member needs to be a current student at LAHS). The show itself is on Thursday, March 27 in the PAC at 5 p.m., and tickets will go on sale at least two weeks before the show.
Previous years included numerous acts: bands, solo singers, dancers, magic shows and comedians; students are given immense freedom to showcase a large range of talents.
Interact Club’s advisor, Ms. Grimshaw, mentioned her favorite performance over the years.
“I always love the bands. The band that won (one year) dressed in some of the greatest costumes, and they played little kid instruments like a kazoo,” Ms. Grimshaw said. “They played Toto’s ‘Africa,’ and it was just crazy hilarious.”
But the show is not simply a showcase of student talent; it is also an exciting competition. The winning act will receive two free prom tickets or the cash equivalent.
“It is an audience voting,” Ms. Grimshaw said. “The audience takes part of their ticket, and they put it in a box for the people they want to win.”
However, if Interact doesn’t get enough acts to sign up, they will be forced to cancel the entire event 一 like they unfortunately had to last year.
“We need at least 10 acts to proceed with the show, and I would be devastated if we had to cancel like last year,” Interact’s president, Bella Kim, said. “The talent show is a great way to have fun performing a talent you enjoy for your peers, while contributing to a wonderful cause, the Global Schisto Project.”
Within Rotary, the national organization dedicated to creating change worldwide, LAHS Interact is a high school branch connected to the local Rotary Club of Los Alamitos, Cypress and Seal Beach. Every year, Rotary dedicates itself to supporting a global cause; this year, it is schistosomiasis. The disease currently affects 80 million children, mostly in African countries, and there has been a recent development toward a cure. Rotary’s goal this year is to aid in the production and distribution of the medication, and the ticket sales from LAHS’ talent show will directly supporting this goal.
Interact also hosts its annual Week of Hope from March 24-28 leading up to the talent show on March 27. Throughout the week, various events will be held during the day to increase hope in the school community and raise money for schistosomiasis. There will also be a silent auction for staff members in the teachers’ lounge. Interact members are collecting items and services donated by local businesses for the auction, and the money will also fund the Global Schisto Project.
“(Through our Week of Hope), we want to reassure our peers on campus that they can make a positive difference, and that they are not alone,” Interact treasurer and secretary Adrian Lopez said. “Our talent show and silent auction also aid (many) globally for greater access to resources that they unfortunately lack.”
However, the Interact events for March don’t end there! Interact also sold tickets for Noodles for Nonprofits, a four-course spaghetti dinner on March 8 at Cypress Senior Center, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Los Alamitos, Cypress and Seal Beach Club. All proceeds from the tickets go toward LAHS Interact.
Rotary also partners with The Youth Center (a local nonprofit organization in Los Alamitos) to nominate students for the annual A Night Among the Stars event, which honors 20 young volunteers who have made a difference in their communities. One of the $500 scholarships awarded is provided by Rotary, and other local organizations fund the other four.
So Griffins, get your tickets and prepare to laugh and spread hope this year at Interact’s talent show and Week of Hope events!
“(The talent show) is fun! What other way (can you) just be with friends and be silly? (You) just cheer people on for putting themselves out there,” Ms. Grimshaw said. “Take a risk; life’s too short.”
