It Was a 'Super Show'

Mother Nature cooperated with a break between snowstorms long enough for two sold-out performances of the “SuperShow” to take place at Central Middle School.

More than 100 dancers, singers and actors from Central were joined on stage by guest acts from North Street, Julian Curtiss and Cos Cob schools earlier this month. Another highlight of the show was an a cappella performance by The Colgate Thirteen. The singers, who included two alumni of the SuperShow, made the trip to Greenwich from their campus in upstate New York.

Far from a conventional school play, the SuperShow’s one tradition is its four segments: the best of television, Hollywood, Broadway and the Web. The themes provide a framework for the show while leaving room for surprises like a “whip my hair” contest, which was dominated by CMS staff members Jaimee Levai and Jen Bressler. Other highlights included a dance competition featuring Snooki and The Situation look-alikes, as well as a live “wall-to-wall” conversation between tentative Facebook friends.

While the show holds no auditions, each fall the cast offer up their talents as singers, dancers or actors, and, in turn, director Ann Beaty tweaks the program to showcase the cast’s particular strengths.

From September through January, a troop of loyal parents committed to the arts, many whose children have long since finished middle school, were busy inventorying thousands of costumes, registering participants and painting sets. Other volunteers include dedicated young alumni who return from GHS to teach dances and help at rehearsals. On show nights, an army of stage crew, techies, dressing room helpers, makeup artists, ushers, bouncers, and concession stand workers ensured the show ran smoothly.

While the cast and most of the crew enjoy a break for the remainder of the school year, the director’s plans are already under way for SuperShow 2012.