After decades of holding the Variety Show in November, the administration has made the decision to move the show to January. With this change in tradition, teachers who have graduated from JC take the time to reflect on their participation in the long standing tradition.
Spanish teacher Danica Attanasio, class of ’97, recalls the Variety Show as “definitely one of my favorite parts of senior year.” Attanasio participated in a skit called Genie, which included things like, “I wish the freshman would . . . ”
Attanasio’s class show was moderated by Spanish teacher Jane Michael and math teacher George Appleby. From his 28 year period of producing Variety Shows as Senior Class Moderator, Appleby remembers a specific skit called The Bionic Nun.
“One that stands out, called The Bionic Nun, might’ve been in the 70s,” Appleby said. “We had a classroom scene with one of the senior girls in a habit. She was able to see things going on in the classroom . . . after so many warnings she went into Bionic Mode.” Bionic Mode consisted of a beeping noise over the sound system and the nun hitting a student in slow motion causing that student to fall in slow motion.
“The thing I enjoyed the most was working on the Variety Show and watching things come together,” Appleby said.
One thing that both Attanasio and Appleby agree on is tradition. “As far as I know, the show started in the 60s and when I came to John Carroll in 1971, it was always held the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving,” Appleby said.
While he was a student at JC, social studies teacher Jake Hollin, class of ’92, participated in the show. “[The Variety Show] was very unifying for us as a class,” Hollin said, stating that the tradition was a very positive experience. But when it comes to the changes in the show, Hollin understands.
“It’s most important to change the show [in a positive way],” Hollin said.
Spanish teacher Edward Maynard, class of ‘93, looks back at his Variety Show as entertaining yet sometimes politically incorrect. He remembers a fellow student, Paul Rhee, heading a skit in which Rhee and his friends dressed up as “The Japanese Beatles” and transformed classic Beatles lyrics into offensive lyrics.
Maynard believes that “graduates feel like it’s about them . . . it’s not really for them, it’s for the senior class to entertain.”
Aside from the content, issues also stem from audience behavior. Vice Principal Gary Scholl has had to deal with the behavior of the audience, such as a group of non-JC students “that crashed the gate.”
Dean of Students Thomas Vierheller hopes that the Variety Show will be more of a talent show this year. “Years back, it was more of true talents and acts. Brendan Smith did an amazing drum solo in ’02,” Vierheller said.
Science teacher Shane Lawler, class of ’00, also participated in the Variety Show and saw it as a positive experience. “I think the best part of the show was seeing all of my friends and classmates bond and support each other,” Lawler said. “To me, the Variety Show was a great avenue to express creativity, humor, showcase talents, and just have a good time with your classmates in your senior year.”
The content for Lawler’s class was more positive because it showcased talent. “I liked the uniqueness of the skits that students wrote themselves and the original songs that were performed,” Lawler said. “I remember a classmate wrote a song and performed it on the piano. I thought to myself that she should be a professional. I think that now she is performing in musicals in New York.”
When it comes to current changes of the show, Lawler is hesitant. “I am never a fan of breaking ‘traditions’ at John Carroll, but I do understand the reasoning behind doing so in certain situations,” Lawler said.
“I think that the audience has changed. It seems like the last couple of years there has been a lack of respect in the younger alumni that return to watch the variety show. I also think that the jabs that the senior class throws out at the returning alumni are becoming more malicious and less all in good fun,” Lawler said.
Campus Minister Patty Murphy-Dohn also hopes that the show will be based on talent since the audience has affected the show in a negative way. “Over the years, the behavior of the audience became gradually worse . . . sometimes you could not even hear the skits,” Murphy-Dohn said. Murphy-Dohn eventually stopped attending the Wednesday night performance due to the tradition of alumni coming back.
“I like the idea of it being on January 7. Now seniors have more time to find creative ways to showcase the class,” Murphy-Dohn said.
Eva Bialobrzeski and Chioma Iheoma are A&E editors for the JCpatriot and JCpatriot.com
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