By Marley Brennan
Staff Writer
Costa’s Drama Department hosted its annual AIDS Benefit on Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. in the Small Theatre.
The production, which consisted of two acts of mini skits and shows, included around 40 participants who each created a skit or chose a song to perform. Acts could be performed as solos or in groups.
All proceeds from the event were donated to the Broadway Equity Cares Rights AIDS Foundation. Tickets cost $5 at the door, and proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test within 72 hours was necessary for admittance to the event.
Longtime Drama member senior Gigi Panzarella, performed the first act of the night, entitled “Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now,” from the musical “Hairspray.” Her group had been rehearsing both after school and during lunch at school for the three weeks leading up to the benefit.
“We do this charity every year, and it has been a Costa tradition for quite some time,” said Panzarella. “It’s an amazing way to spread awareness throughout our community.”
The song “Love’s a Fooling Game” was sung by sophomore Natalie Ramirez during the seventh performance of the first act. She also sang a duet with sophomore Natalie Cooper to the song “Come to Your Senses” from the musical “Tick, Tick Boom.”
“I love the fact that we raise money by allowing people to come in and pay to see us perform our beautiful and different talents and then give that money for a good cause,” said Ramirez. “An added benefit is always the aspect of getting closer to others who are also in the show.”
According to sophomore stagehand and prop master Jackson Yollin, the ability to promote and spread awareness for AIDS was one of the most meaningful parts of the production. According to Yollin, he is usually a performer in Costa Drama productions, but he decided to work as a member of the tech crew for the AIDS Benefit.
“It was so great putting this show together,” Yollin said. “From watching the acts perform during dress rehearsal, to the actual show itself, it was just so incredible to be supportingsuch a great cause.”
Freshman singer Jaxon Stroyke participated in two acts: one solo to the song “No Matter What,” and one duet with freshman Samantha Probst to the song “For Good” from the musical “Wicked.” According to Stroyke, he signed up because he wanted to represent himself through song. However, COVID-19 restrictions were still in place, and the singers had to wear masks on stage to avoid their act being cancelled due to the virus.
“We had to wear masks, as always, but especially with the duet we had to be careful because if one of us got COVID, three of the acts would have had to be removed,” said Stroyke
Sophomore Lily Boettcher performed as Keith Haring in her group’s scene, “What is Making: A Tribute to Keith Haring.” The act centers around Haring, an artist who performed to raise funds for AIDS resrearch and created artwork in support of the cause.
“My group thought it was fitting to perform a tribute to an advocate for AIDS awareness,” said Boettcher. “I really enjoyed this production because of the experience and working with a ton of awesome people.”
Boettcher and her group chose to integrate Haring’s performance style in their act and to imitate his artwork in their costume design and choice of choreography throughout their performance.
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