Dim lights, LED strips, and live jazz music set the tone for Jazz June, held on June 4th in the Walton Center. Students from the second block music and drama class, directed by Mrs Garcia and Mrs Noorzay, performed a 1920s-themed show for an audience of more than eight classes.
The stage featured paintings of famous jazz artists made by the students, vintage-style props, and musical instruments that helped set the tone. Dim lighting and LED strips also helped create an ambiance for the audience.
The play/musical featured several acts inspired by the Roaring Twenties, including “Flapper,” “Harlem’s Poison,” a Babe Ruth tribute, an original script based on The Great Gatsby, and a Charleston dance performance. A mix of acting and live music made it feel like a musical.
“I enjoyed learning, doing the Charleston dance, and working with my peers and my teachers,” expressed Gio Galvan (‘28), a student in Drama 1.
Students from drama class performed many scenes while the band played in the background. The band kept a good pace and played wonderfully throughout the entire show. The musicians had to perform extra songs between acts a couple of times due to some difficulties. Additionally, the drummer had a solo and they played amazingly. The audience enjoyed it, clapping loudly for him and cheering..
One moment that made the play more fun and interactive was when the performers stepped off the stage and into the audience and pulled people aside to teach them how to do the Charleston dance. It made the audience more engaged and it was enjoyable.
“[Jazz June is] probably one of my favorite Preuss traditions, it’s unique,” states Mrs. Noorzay, “It’s when all the art departments come together.”
She mentions that the musicians who were performing came up with a few songs of their own, which is impressive.
“I think we did really good. There was some incidents where things didn’t work out the way it was supposed to, but despite that, we improvised, we found ways to make it more fun,” said Reeham Haji (‘28) who participated in the Babe Ruth Tribute act.
“We found ways to make it more fun and funnier. We were dancing a lot to get more people hyped,” said Sophia Tesfamarim (‘28), another one of the actors.
After the event, all of the actors returned to the stage for a final bow, receiving loud applause from the audience.
Jazz June brought history to life creatively and entertainingly, offering the audience a unique look at an iconic decade.
