Top Fives of SING! 2021

Best Main Acting Performances

Drew Cassetty (Katerina Corr, seniors)

From the opening frame of Senior SING!, Katerina Corr as Drew Cassetty, the host of Virtually Impossible!, secured the top performance. She tore up the virtual scenery and spatial limits imposed by Zoom, being over the top and restrained all at once. From her spunk and sass that immediately captivated the audience, Corr communicated that she was having a fun time, reveling in every musical number and line of dialogue.

Grandma (Claire De La Roche, seniors)

Though Grandma may be old, she sure ain’t frail. Played by Claire De La Roche, Grandma is strong enough to carry the whole show. De La Roche’s hammy New York accent lent the show a soulful, old-timer spirit. When she sings, it is a voice that does not quaver from the years, but rather is strengthened by them.

Lucas (Daniel Jeon, juniors)

Iconically decked out in full denim and sporting a backward baseball cap, Daniel Jeon as Lucas delivered his lines with a passionate and outgoing spirit. Through his enthusiastic gestures, sick moves, and facial expressions, he captivated the audience and convincingly conveyed his character’s passion, frustration, and transformation.

Angelica (Kate Alvarez, soph-frosh)

Blunt and unafraid to speak her mind, Kate Alvarez’s portrayal of the affluent Angelica had a strong presence on the virtual stage of Soph-Frosh SING!. Throughout, her vocals shone with clarity and elegance, and her lines truly conveyed her character’s unintentional but subtly humorous rudeness. Dressed in a classy plaid blazer and black turtleneck, she communicated a deeper sense of New York.

Jebediah (Dean Carey, seniors)

Dean Carey, commendable for his sincerity and accent as Cowboy Jebediah Tillerson Jr., powerfully stood out as an enjoyable, memorable character in Senior SING!. Introduced as an “avid recycler, helicopter admirer, and a movie night advocate,” he embraced the cowboy spirit through his rhotic accent, quirks (such as reading his book in spare moments), and of course, his cattleman hat and belt buckle.

Best Supporting Acting Performances

Detective Lance Brooding (Jonathan Schneiderman, seniors)

As Detective Brooding, Jonathan Scheiderman captured the feeling of a gloomy noir detective perfectly, right before leaving the viewers a changed man as part of an impressive Latin performance. His initially hushed and scruffy voice encapsulated the mysteriousness that he evoked, which greatly contrasted his later lively Broadway performance.

Mephistopheles (Reilly Amera, seniors)

From her blazing red dress and gloves to vintage red sunglasses and glittery pitchfork, Reilly Amera perfectly embodied the Devil. The sass that she radiated was impeccable as she sipped from her coffee and blew raspberries at the contestants. And to top it off, her strong vocals tied the whole performance together.

Sir Nottingham (Alexander Lake, seniors)

When you think of a knight in shining armor, “Virtually Impossible!”’s Sir Nottingham may be one of the last characters you think of, but Alexander Lake’s execution of an incompetent warrior was far more amusing. Lake perfectly captured the naivete, sincerity, and sheer stupidity of Sir Nottingham on his quest to rescue Princess Snowflake. From a rendition of Marvin Gaye’s “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” an awkward reunion with the love of his life, and an iconic cockney accent, Lake’s performance added an almost nostalgic, but humorous, touch to Senior SING!.

Andy Barnes (Max Kahn, seniors)

Max Kahn’s impression of a determined but unpopular Andy Barnes certainly added quirkiness to the already dynamic cast of contestants on “Virtually Impossible!” As a former presidential candidate who won only six votes, his poor sense of timing in promoting himself and his platform only lightened the mood of the high-stakes game show. His untimely assassination by Cassetty completely shifted the plotline, immortalizing Barnes in the storyline.

Ice Cream Scooper (Unique Zhang, soph-frosh)

Unique Zhang’s role as an ice cream scooper was a quick one, yet her commitment to it was impressive. With a down-to-earth demeanor and prudence in her actions, Zhang was able to make a forgettable character one who is surprisingly memorable. Her genuine frustration forced the “Karen” of the show to rethink calling the manager of Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory and endeared the audience to her struggle.

Best Dance Performances

Senior Latin

With great musicality and fun choreography, senior Latin delivered an expressive and entertaining number to the strong vocals of Mimi Gillies and Jonathan Schneiderman. Despite the limitations of virtual SING!, careful consideration in planning the choreography, paired with masterful editing, maintained chemistry and lively interactions between partners.

Senior Hip-hop

Through its stunning synchronization and precision, enhanced by a well-positioned spread of dancers across the screen, senior hip-hop brought energy and attitude to the introduction of Host Drew Cassetty, spotlighting the performance of Katerina Corr well.

Senior Flow

The excellent color coordination, well-thought-out sequencing, and dazzling incorporation of various props from senior flow contributed to a beautiful visual experience, fitting for the graceful rendition of Coldplay’s “Paradise” performed by the cast.

Junior Flow

Junior flow’s dancers dramatically burst onto the screen as fireworks, with a staggered introduction synced precisely to accompanying instrumentals. Clean movements and eye-catching composition throughout the performance produced a captivating and interesting final dance number for Junior SING!.

Senior Tap

Appearing and vanishing in mysterious plumes of smoke, senior tap displayed impressively synchronized cadence. Tilting from side to side with swinging tridents and even virtually interacting with each other at times, the dancers put up a grand backdrop for the duetted vocals of Katerina Corr and Reilly Amera.

Best Vocal Performances

I Will Survive (Mimi Gillies, seniors)

Mimi Gillies as Maxine popped with spunk and power in her astounding number “I Will Survive.” Gillies belted with precision and beauty, her twirls alongside Latin were graceful, and every note hit the air with flair.

Great Balls of Fire (Jonathan Schneiderman, seniors)

After spending half the show skulking around with a cigarette, Detective Lance Brooding, played by Jonathan Schneiderman, ripped off his trench coat and burst into a brilliant rendition of “Great Balls of Fire,” emblematic of the spirit of Broadway. “Look out baby, here I come Broadway!” he sang. Consider the baby looking out.

Edge of Glory (seniors)

“Edge of Glory,” Senior SING!’s opening number, put the ! into SING! Starting off with Katerina Corr’s sharp vocals, Jonathan Schneiderman’s Detective Lance Brooding came shiftily into the frame, flicking his cigarette. Heading in from the other side was Stella Oh’s Amy decked out in slapping gear from headband to knuckle guards to sneakers. Soon, a cowboy-booted Dean Carey, a silver-haired Claire De La Roche, a bouncy Mimi Gillies (with as much pop as the bubblegum pink she wore), and, perhaps most entertainingly, a medieval knight decked out in a full suit of chainmail (Alexander Lake) made their entrance. Together, the whole crew delivered both an introduction to the ensemble of characters and also a strong, energetic bang to open the show.

Walking on Sunshine (juniors)

To embrace the ‘80s-esque nature of a show, “Walking on Sunshine” was the perfect choice for the theme song of Junior SING!. It injected the sunshine energy needed to liven up the show, with beautiful vocals and harmonies that seamlessly blended in with each other.

Lotus Inn (Kate Alvarez, soph-frosh)

Kate Alvarez’s clear, sweet voice shone in “Lotus Inn.” In addition to her honeyed tone that is a pleasure to listen to, it also conveyed Angelica’s reflection and awareness of her privilege as she attempted to be more cognizant of her actions towards others. The song accompanied Latin, wearing classy shirts and tie outfits as they twirled in the background.

Best Moments

Fonda Advertisement with Lauren Stuzin and Principal Seung Yu (juniors)

Capturing a true hallmark of ‘80s pop culture, Lauren Stuzin and Principal Seung Yu made their SING! cameos in a Jane Fonda-inspired aerobics commercial. Featuring Stuzin’s threateningly cheerful expressions and Yu’s infomercial style voiceover, the section provided some much-needed comedic relief in the show. Stuzin’s enthusiasm, baggy clothes, and yoga mat, paired with the flashy, colorful graphics, made for an energetic segment. Of course, we cannot forget the Chi-pot-tle pronunciation.

Promposal Commercial (Liam Kronman, seniors)

As a comedic break, Liam Kronman’s Simpy “You Can Have My” McCorndog III embodied more than just a political campaign-esque commercial in which Simpy promposed to Jessica. McCorndog III’s high-pitched voice, taped glasses, and mullet at one point contrast the menacing voiceover that followed and Dave Collins’s (Neil Sarkar) nasally voice to “approve this message.”

Character Development (seniors)

Modern movies have conditioned us to expect an epic showdown that involves solid energy and yelling. Senior SING! subverted that trope. The villains didn’t want to fight but talked through their problems instead. The video fast-forwarded through the scene while the “Curb Your Enthusiasm” theme played, and the words “[CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT]” appeared on the screen. Like many aspects of Senior SING!, this joke could only have worked through a video format, playing to the strengths of the virtual circumstances.

Detective Lance Brooding Discovers Broadway (seniors)

While spending much of his professional life embroiled in the sorrows of detective work, Detective Lance Brooding came to life when Broadway actress wannabe Maxine introduced him to the glitz and glamor of show business. Marked by a shift in both visuals and Brooding’s behavior, a pensive character was transformed into one of the most enthusiastic cast members. Featuring Brooding’s strong vocal performance and animated dancing, the actor’s spirit and enthusiasm traversed the limitations of an online show. A standout dance performance by senior Latin and vivacious instrumentals were the cherry on top of this lively segment.

Theme Song (juniors)

Following the opening scene of the Junior SING! performance, a classic ‘80s sitcom intro was creatively incorporated to present the cast clearly, full with their names. A catchy theme song trumpeted in the background, featuring the vocals of the main characters. The transitions between short clips of the show and the introduction of the characters made for a good preview of the performance, exciting the audience for what was to come.

BEST BAND PERFORMANCES

Another One Bites the Dust (juniors)

Back to Black (seniors)

I’m Still Standing (juniors)

I Will Survive (seniors)

drivers license (seniors)

BEST NONPERFORMING CREWS

Senior Editing

Senior Art

Junior Editing

Senior Costumes

Senior Makeup

BEST COSTUMES, MAKEUP, AND STYLING

Mephistopheles (Reilly Amera, seniors)

Detective Lance Brooding (Jonathan Schneiderman, seniors)

Sir Nottingham (Alexander Lake, seniors)

Angelica (Kate Alvarez, soph-frosh)

Diana (Sophie Poget, juniors)

BEST JOKES

“This is the senior bar! They only serve Tea’s Tea here.” —Detective Lance Brooding (Jonathan Schneiderman, seniors)

“I had to convince the math team kids to take a shower.” —Mephistopheles (Reilly Amera, seniors)

“A vote for me is a vote for the common man of Mount Unpleasant.” —Andy Barnes (Max Kahn, seniors)

“As long it’s not an escalator to heaven. I’m not going toe-to-toe with one of those things again.” —Maxine (Mimi Gillies, seniors)

“Drew, I’ve tortured everyone from serial killers to Elon Musk stans to teachers whose homework policies violate the Geneva Conventions, and you’re way worse than all of them combined.” —Mephistopheles (Reilly Amera, seniors)

BEST EDITING MOMENTS/EFFECTS

Minecraft-styled principal office scene (juniors)

Hip-hop editing (seniors)

Latin color change from noir to rainbow colors (seniors)

Paper passing when Gia gets expelled (juniors)

Pixelating disappearances during the simulation (seniors)