by: Bobby McDonald
Music lovers and patrons braved rain and thunderstorms on Saturday night to make their way to the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center for the Northeast Texas Choral Society's 2006 Spring Show, entitled "Just For The Fun of It." Director Carol Allen and members of the local chorus made the trip worthwhile for those who enjoy a variety of uplifting music.
The chorus members arrived center stage via an entrance from the audience, where they had chatted and visited with patrons, prior to the opening number. Then, they began with the "peppy" "And All That Jazz," that set the tone for the night. And, if by a promisory revelation, the next number was "Blue Skies," as rain pelted the roof of the Civic Center.
Choral members hardly had the time to catch their breath, before a lively "Rockin' Robin," was belted-out with vivre and enthusiam, as the chords of the all-time 50's theme song captured the hearts of the audience. Then, soloist, Pam Hope, joined director, Carol Allen, in a rendition of the prelude to "Wizzard of Oz" where Hope portrayed "The Good Witch" and tried to teach Allen's Wicked Witch how to be "Popular!"
Soloist, Pam Hope, left, tries to "teach" Carol Allen how to be "Popular."
The Bass Section was featured in the classic, "The Barber of Seville."
And, a bass feature of "The Barber of Seville Overture," was performed in a "take-off" of the classical piece with no words......."Bop-Bop-Boom-Bop-Boom-Bop!" Director Allen, informed the audience that the only way to follow such a piece was with a classic love song, performed with the voice of featured soloist, John White, who captivated the audience with "What'll I Do?"
Male vocalist, John White, presents "What'll I Do?"
With only one more selection before the short intermission, the entire chorus and featured soloists, Gina Snyder, Debbie Ricketts, and Jason Frazier, dazzled the crowd with their medley of songs from the popular broadway musical "Mamma Mia."
The selections featured the popular "Dancing Queen" and other songs that were made popular by the group "Abba."
A trio of vocalists, Gina Snyder, Debbie Ricketts, and Jason Frazier were featured in the medley
from the broadway musical, "Mamma Mia."
And, Frazier lends his tenor voice to this particular selection.
The second half of the show began with local personality, Betty Holden White, "trying-out" to be a member of the Northeast Texas Choral Society, for the 2006 Christmas Show, as she humorously portrayed a less than perfect vocalist and sang "I Just Want to Sing In a Choir." She was joined by Seleta Edge and Mary Lutz at "critical" points in the presentation!
Betty White is featured soloist, as she "tries out" for the choir, in "I Just Want to Sing In a Choir!"
Linda Riddle and Beth Alsobrook were featured vocalists in "Tuxedo Junction." And, the bass section of the choir was featured in "Poison Ivy."
And, Linda Riddle, left, and Beth Alsobrook, "belt-it-out" in "Tuxedo Junction," as featured soloists.
"Big John.......Big Bad John!" reverberated in deep bass voices as soloist Mike Gilmer told the story of coal miner, John, "who stood 6 foot 6......wide at the shoulder......and narrow at the hip......and was involved in a coal minning accident. John heaved a mine timber and allowed his fellow workers the light of day, only to be buried beneath the ground.........."and in this bottomless pit lies a big, big man, Big John!"
"Big John......Big, Bad John......."
Following the rendition of "Workin'," the number switched to a "soulful" highlight of the night as "Big Marlin" took the stage in a memorable Ray Charles salute; Marlin Chisom, that is. As the chorus sang numbers from Charles' illustrious career, Chisom was featured in an awesome rendition of "Georgia," that left the audience with "chills!"
Soloist Marlin Chisom, in his salute to Ray Charles, singing a memorable rendition of "Georgia."
Next a piano recital of "It Is Well With My Soul," featured Choral Society regular, Denise Grammer, playing the piece that she played in memory of her late father and is included on her newly published Compact Disc.
Then, it was off to a full chorus presentation of a lively, "In The Swing," followed by a moving tribute to the Undergound Railroad and the fight for freedom, for Black American's, prior to the Civil War, with the spiritual, "KeepYour Lamps."
Allen took a break and introduced members of the society's accompanist section and asked the former members of the Choral Society, in the audience, to join the choir on stage, for the benedictory number.
Former Choral Member, Esther Herschler, joins the chorus for the Benediction number.
Patrons left the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center with misty weather "dotting" their windshields and warm hearts from a night of enjoyble entertainment, "Just For The Fun of It!"
The Choral Society was to perform the same show in a Sunday afternoon matinee, beginning at 2:00 p.m.
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