This year, the Salida High School Choir decided to investigate a new form of fall concert: a dinner theater! At this dinner theater, the SHS Choir performed two group songs: Tonight from the musical “West Side Story,” arranged by Leonard Bernestein and a mashup of You’ll Never Walk Alone from the musical “Carousel” and Climb Every Mountain from “The Sound of Music,” arranged by Mark Hayes. As well as that, individual and small groups of choir members performed solos and duets.
“You know, it’s just a night to try and raise money for Carnegie Hall Trip, give the kids an authentic performing experience, and say thank you to the community via food and music,” Music Department Head Andre Wilkins said.
This dinner theater was made possible by a plethora of different people, including choir teacher and Music Director Andre Wilkins as well as choir leadership: President Scarlett Campell, Vice President Nika Peterson, Representative Jessica Clinton, Treasurer Kaia Trever, Secretary Chloe Epperson, Social Media Director Reese Daugherty and ninth grade Observer Kayla Pursell. Jennifer Campbell was also vital to the success of the dinner theater as she helped with food and decorations.
At its core, the dinner theater was a fundraising event. In April, some choir members are participating in a music festival at Carnegie Hall in New York. While this is an amazing possible experience for the students, it is also incredibly expensive. The dinner theater was just one of many fundraising events the SHS choir has hosted. To raise money, tickets cost $25 per person. Overall, the choir raised around $2900 to help lower the cost of the Carnegie Hall Trip.
“Dinner theater is a pretty common fundraising idea that a lot of choirs do that provide a 3 course meal, and then live music for the duration of the theater, or duration of the dinner. So in our case, an individual person would pay $25, and you would get a salad, pasta and dessert. Not alcoholic drinks, have to specify, and then families of four, two parents, two kids is $75 dollars and it’s 10 dollars for each additional kid,” Wilkins said.
Wilkins says that the dinner theater is different from anything you may have ever done. He mentions that it’s stressful to have personal responsibilities to make the whole group work. When someone comes into choir, they have to learn to match pitch and learn how to sing. Also, students have to sing infront of people, and it can be hard for students to have that kind of vulnerability. He also mentions that the group is very supportive, and that it is a safe place for you to try new things. Dinner theater seems to be a big success, and a lot of fun for people to go to and be in!
