More than 50 community members gathered at the Whitesboro High School (WHS) cafetorium last Tuesday for the Whitesboro Fine Arts Department’s patriotic-themed Coffee House. High school theatre, choir and art students worked to create a musical showcase that entertained audience members while giving the students more hands-on experience.
From lighting to sound equipment, WHS theatre students served as technicians at the show, which was held on the cafetorium stage.
Choir and theatre students alike performed throughout the evening, some singing by themselves (with a pre-recorded background track) and some as duets. WHS seniors Emily Cogburn and Ava Mitchell served as the show’s emcees, introducing performers, telling jokes and keeping the evening moving along.
Decorating the walls of the room were thematic drawings and paintings created by WHS art students.
The event serves as a fundraiser for the Fine Arts Department. General admission was $5 per ticket while students and children could enter for just $1. Ticket price included coffee, hot chocolate and a variety of cookies, cupcakes and sweet treats.
“I am so excited about the work of all three of our fine arts disciplines that were involved in the first coffee house of the year,” WISD Fine Arts Coordinator Tonya Harper said. “Rheanna
Fagan’s art students produced some beautiful work for the audience to see before and after the show, while Tony Morrell’s theatre students and Amber Speer’s choir students both technically and artistically gave a great first glimpse of what is coming this year from their programs.”
This year’s WHS Fine Arts Department is under new leadership. In addition to Morrell and Speer, who were hired over the summer, the high school band is now under the direction of Jesse Speer. The team is looking forward to finding more ways to showcase their students this year.
“We as a department are striving to bring many more opportunities for the community to see the amazing talents of the students at WISD throughout this school year, from more coffee houses, concerts, art galleries and theatrical productions,” Harper said.
The Fine Arts Department has a busy year ahead. High school theatre students will be performing “Elephant’s Graveyard” as their Full Fall Production Oct. 5-7 at 7:30 p.m. each day. The choir department will hold its fall concert on Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. at the WHS cafetorium.
The next Coffee House (Christmas-themed) is scheduled for Dec. 16 with a possible Broadway-themed Coffee House planned for spring. The Whitesboro Middle School One Act Play will compete in December and WHS One Act Play will compete in the spring.
With so many opportunities available, the students should see lots of community support this year.
