This weekend, a talented collection of students will participate in the annual, two-night Indian River High School Variety Show, the music department’s most successful fundraiser. Headed by the Mark Marvel, the school’s band and chorus director, it will comprise 35 acts, featuring song, dance, skits and more.
Coastal Point • FILE PHOTO:
Last year’s variety show at Indian River High School offered a talented cast and crew.
“It’s always one of my favorite shows of the year,” said Marvel, who has been teaching music for 24 years. “We don’t have a drama department here at Indian River, so this is our version.” Marvel replaced director Richard Eckerd after he retired eight years ago, and was adamant to continue the yearly tradition that Eckerd began.
With 30 to 40 participants each year, the students are given the chance to showcase their abilities. This year, they will display their talent, opening with a wide variety of 26 individual performances, followed by a Broadway-themed finale, which will include nine other scores, embracing songs from classic theatrical shows such as “Cabaret,” “Grease” and even “The Lion King.”
“Every year,” said Marvel, “I take the group to New York City, and this year’s we’ll see the Broadway performance of ‘The Lion King.’ I thought it’d be great to incorporate some of those songs into this year’s show.”
With chart-topping television shows such as “American Idol,” “Dancing with the Stars” and NBC’s reality competition “Grease: You’re the One That I Want,” stage performance has been making a comeback. Marvel said it has even encouraged some of his students to take part in the variety show.
“It’s really great to see new faces out here each year,” said Marvel, “but I really enjoy when the same people are coming back each year. We have some who have participated in this show every year they were at the school.”
Marvel’s son, Jordan, is one of those students. Jordan Marvel had staged his talents as a freshman, playing trumpet in individual pieces and finales. This year, he will contribute his ability on bass guitar for most of the songs. With his father heading the show, Jordan Marvel said he has sometimes felt obligated, but has been more than happy to help. “I always have fun doing this each year,” he said.
For junior Cori McCowan, it wasn’t a difficult decision to decide to come back to the variety show. “I had a great time when I was in it last year,” she said. McCowan, an active member in the school’s chorus, will be performing in two numbers among the show’s individual performances, as well as five of the nine finale numbers.
“We lost a lot of talented people last year,” said Jordan Marvel. “We still have a lot of really good [students], though, and there are a lot of freshmen coming up, too.”
As far as the performance, the two said their nerves no longer get the better of them. “I’m used to it now,” said Jordan Marvel. “I like being up on stage. I really get into it.”
“I’m a little nervous right before the curtain goes up on Friday,” admitted McCowan. “But after that, I’m fine.”
In addition to their own performances, McCowan and Jordan Marvel, like several of the participants, share their time, helping with the lighting, casting and stage set-up, as well.
“We always seem to have a pretty big crowd,” said Mark Marvel. “Back when we were in the old high school, we had to sell tickets in advance because it would fill up. It’s nice to have the space we have now. There’s a lot more room, but we still get a lot of people to come out.”
The shows will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, March 23, and Saturday, March 24, in the school’s auditorium. Tickets will be sold at the door for $5 per person. All proceeds will benefit the Indian River music department. Music books and instruments are among the top products purchased with the money raised at the variety show.
“We use the money for anything we need in the department,” said Marvel. “The show always helps us out a lot.”