In February, Revere High School (RHS) will host their annual Variety Show with several different performances showcasing a multitude of different talents.
Each year, RHS English teacher Amy Fagnilli coordinates multiple acts that culminate in one special night. In the past, the show has seen numerous artists display their special talent for a crowd full of peers and family. The Variety Show this year displays a group of performers from each grade level with several new acts as well as a handful of returning artists.
This year marks adviser and director Amy Fagnilli’s 16th show with Revere. Fagnilli recognizes that this year’s show will feature a large group of experienced performers.
“[SLAM] is planning on doing two different performances; one with Val González Arroyo and one on their own. Each year they are significantly better than the year before, I expect them to be one of the highlights of the night,” Fagnilli said.
Entering her fourth year in the Variety Show, singer Lily Dunn mentioned that she enjoys the environment the show creates between performers.
“The variety show has a sense of community. You don’t really rely on each other to sound good, you rely on each other emotionally. After [performing], hearing all these super talented musicians tell you that you did a good job is so cool,” Dunn said.
Dunn views the shows as learning experiences, as she can learn to perform in front of large audiences.
”As a freshman, it was one of the first times I had performed in front of the school, and that’s what made the experience so special,” Dunn said.
Dunn has participated in the show for multiple years, throughout shows she enjoys watching other artists grow in their performances.
“The band SLAM is made up mostly of freshmen right now. I’ve known them all through the Variety Show since they were in 6th grade and one of my favorite parts is to see how these people grow,” Dunn said.
Ninth grader and guitarist Myles Kelly is the lead singer of the band SLAM. Kelly has a rich musical history in his family, with multiple family members currently in a band.
“My uncle is in a band with [my father]. My grandpa is the one that really got me into guitar, he actually gifted me my first guitar,” Kelly said.
Outside of the variety show, Kelly uses his musical skills on stage through the multiple gigs his band has booked. Kelly takes lessons to prepare for his performances.
“I took piano lessons in 2019. Still do, but then I started taking guitar lessons over summer. I stopped before school started,” Kelly said.
Act 1 will begin with performances by junior Cooper Gardner on the drums performing “Seven Nation Army”. Next, freshmen Chloe Kern will sing “TV” by Billie Eilish followed by sophomore Caden Jones performing a song by Rachmaninoff. Freshmen Myles Kelly will perform his first act alongside junior Harli Habyan to “Stay” by Rihanna. Afterwards, senior Michael Gallup will play guitar as he sings “Lovesick” by Sweet Ignition then Lily Fox will sing a solo to “Don’t You Remember” by Adele. Rounding out Act 1 will be two freshmen Adam Herrera and Liam Blower with freshmen Sam Hogan and sophomore Val González Arroyo performing “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac.
Act 2 will have multiple performers on their second act of the night as well as a few soloists. The band SLAM, consisting of freshmen Myles Kelly, Sam Hogan, and Lorenzo Ortiz, will open by performing “Disco” by Surf Curse. Senior Lily Dunn as well as Val González Arroyo will sing their own respective solos. Following, freshmen Alec Myers will perform “Bouree” by Bach on the Violin. Then, sophomore Adam Huskey will sing “Smooth Criminal” as well as “Billie Jean” by Micheal Jackson. Sophomore Kaylee Carpas will sing a solo to the song “Skyscraper” by Demi Lovato. The final act of the night will perform “I’m So Sick” by Flyleaf including Sam Hogan on the drums, Adam Herrera with the guitar, Liam Blower on the bass, and Val González Arroyo as the lead singer.
The Variety Show takes place on Saturday February 1st at 7:00pm and will be the last curtain call for many artists that have performed together for so many years.