Hosting a show choir invitational is not for the feint of heart, but the PHS show choir staff and families make it look easy. And with the inaugural Plainfield High School Quaker Classic Invitational in the books, a big thank you is due to everyone who worked so hard to make it a success.
Nineteen choirs from all corners of the state arrived early in the morning, and for those making it to the finals, they departed late at night. And not just the students put in long days, the backstage crew, the costume assistants, the parents who set up the staging and those who make last-minute repairs to costumes are committed to the full day as well.
As the host school, Plainfield's choirs were not competing, although they did perform. And in addition to the volunteer efforts that go into preparing the choirs for a performance, as the host, PHS parents took on far greater responsibilities.
Members of the PHS TLAR team (dads who work on sets named themselves "That Looks About Right") worked backstage managing stage setup and transitions between performances, timing each group (a choir only gets a certain amount of time to move onto the stage, set up their props, perform, and get everything off the stage) and ensuring safety during the transitions.
Outside the auditorium, parents handled admission, organized the setup of local vendors and food kiosks, kept the crowds flowing into and out of the auditorium in an organized fashion, and managed the overall affair.
Plainfield choral director, Jonelle Heaton, enjoyed the opportunity to visit with her peers once everything was set up and underway. In previous years, PHS has hosted the state show choir finals, bringing with it far more tension than an invitational. "This is such fun for me," Heaton said, "because I get to enjoy the day, catch up with my friends from around the state, and be an ambassador for Plainfield, PHS, and our choral program. It doesn't get much better than that," she added.
Many thanks to everyone who played a role in bringing this event to life, and to ensuring its success. Another example of #QuakerFaces working to do things #ThePlainfieldWay.
Images here represent the performances of mixed choirs in the large school category, from Franklin, North Central, Chesterton and Avon.