Applications and auditions are underway for the annual school talent show. Led by the peer-leadership organization, the event brings together the whole school to a night full of talent expressed by the students of Allen High School.
The event will take place Friday, Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center.
“People from 9th grade through 12th grade can audition [for the talent show] as an act,” senior Avery Watson, social media and community relations director said. “We’ve had drumlines, taekwondo, dance, singing, piano, literally anything. And we all just come together in the PAC at the high school and cheer them on.”
Although used as a source of entertainment for students, the event serves as a large fundraiser for Allen Peer Leadership, according to Watson.
“A lot of [the money made off of tickets] is either donated to causes outside of the school or it’s taken in as scholarships for the seniors leaving the [peer leadership] program,” Watson said.
Performing in the show is not the only way to enjoy the night. Many students come to watch and see the array of different acts by the students.
“The talent show is just really fun,” Watson said. “It’s a night where we can come back to school and just all have fun together.”
For Watson, coming to see the show has always been a memorable experience in her high school years since the experience brings everyone together.
“[When I was a freshman], someone was singing, and we all just put our phone flashes on and started going back and forth,” Watson said. “At school, we can all be divided into a bunch of different groups, but it’s a night where we can all come together and cheer on someone and make them feel good about themselves, which is kind of hard to get at school nowadays.”
To make this performance as memorable as it is for Watson, the peer leadership spends class and outside-of-class time to prepare.
“We make posters and hang them up in the school,” Watson said. “We get a lot of volunteers, so every year the seniors will sign up to be talent show judges, hosts, and ushers outside. We also sell tickets. Sophomores and juniors have to sell one ticket, and seniors have to sell two tickets. We also promote [the show] on our social media.”
The event is completely student-run since the members of peer leadership are the masterminds behind the scenes.
“Everybody from peer leadership helps host it, create it, like we put out the entire script for it,” peer leadership president senior Mikki Jeppson said. “The hosts create the script for like in-between acts like we’ll go up there and start talking and make jokes like interaction from the crowd.
Bell noted that since most of the school events in Allen are sports, the talent show offers a unique source of entertainment and participation.
“I just feel like it’s a great way to just do something different,” peer leader senior Sarina Bell said. “Like I feel like it’s usually basketball games or football games, it’s always just sports and I feel like this is a great opportunity for people to just get out of their comfort zone and do something fun. Having the different diversity [of events] in school to be able to do something is really important.”
