AFS Showcase, a student talent show and fundraiser for the American Field Service program, took place Friday, November 14.
While the event is led by Drama Director Adam Sheaffer, the students also play a role in the coordination of Showcase and in helping their other students practice.
“Showcase has been a really fun experience with everyone involved,” said Ellie Christian, senior. “There’s about over 20 people. There’s singers, there’s actors, there’s bands, there’s dances. It’s really creative and there’s lots of art going on and everyone is super inspiring. There are freshmen through seniors, and us directors are working really hard to make sure everyone is included and everyone is showing up and doing their absolute best and bringing their talents to the table.”
Christian has been performing in Showcase since she was a freshman. She’s part of A Capella Club and one of the student directors, and she worked to organize the event.
“I started it when I was a freshman in high school, but I remember when I was younger, when I was in elementary school, I would come see it with my mom,” Christian said. “It was so cool and it was so interesting to see all the different talents, and now that I’m in high school participating in it, it’s awesome.”
Another senior and Showcase veteran, Meera Antigua, has also been doing Showcase and performing with SHS Drama since her freshman year. Even with experience there are still challenging parts of her four different acts.
“I’d say the hardest part with my solo is that I’m not that experienced with piano, so trying to play piano and sing at the same time is pretty hard,” Antigua said. “[But] the dance has been the hardest one for me…it’s kind of challenging trying to figure out how a dance is gonna read on stage. I’ve never had to think about choreographing a dance before and how the audience sees it versus how I feel doing the dance.”
A great part of Showcase is how accessible it is to new performers. It’s not necessary to have participated in Drama or choir to perform and be in your own act.
“This is my first year that I signed up for Showcase, so I’m kinda new to this whole thing and the program,” said Nolan Quathamer, sophomore. “I’m sure the students that are working behind the scenes are doing a great job because it’s been, overall, really smooth to go to the rehearsals and to do all of the preparation for the event.”
Although new to Showcase, Quathamer is very familiar with music. He plays piano and drums and has been to the State Solo and Ensemble festival multiple times.
“I saw the preview for Showcase that they did in the auditorium at the high school and I found it very interesting that you could basically sign up for any performance that you want and share a bit of your interest and share a bit of what you’re doing outside of school,” Quathamer said.
There is also a presentation during the show, led by exchange students, where they share some of their experiences with the audience, tying in the AFS aspect of Showcase. Brian Schulteis, the AP Psychology and Sociology teacher, advises the AFS club and has worked to help organize this performance.
“During Showcase each student tells their story and a little bit about themselves and their hometown, why they chose AFS as a program to go abroad, and then share their experiences of their first months at SHS and the broader southeastern Wisconsin community,” Schulteis said. “So we share photos and stories and anecdotes about being a young person traveling the globe.”
AFS is an exchange program for students around the globe to explore other countries and lifestyles. It was established in 1915 as a volunteer based ambulance service in World War I, after which it arranged reunions between American Field Service members. Finally, after World War II, they progressed to running cultural exchange programs. Showcase allows little cultural exchanges between our talented performers, the exchange students, and the audience.
“AFS Showcase is both the main fundraiser for AFS Shorewood as well as SHS Drama throughout the year; the proceeds of the production are split,” Schulteis said. “Obviously Shorewood Drama is iconic and legendary and so is AFS. We are the longest standing AFS chapter in the state of Wisconsin. The funds that are raised through the program helps the AFS adult chapter so your ticket sales are going to help Shorewood students see the world and part of communities outside of southeastern Wisconsin. As well as celebrating the families that have opened their door to students here at SHS.”