March 26 variety night at Towne Crier lets the grown-ups strut their stuff
By Alison Rooney
Haldane’s students are always being shown off. Whether it’s through their achievements in sports, the arts or academics, the spotlight is frequently trained on them. Could genetics play a role in all of this? When it comes to the performing arts, the answer appears to be a resounding “yes,” as that spotlight is about to be readjusted and focused on their talented parents.
The first annual Haldane’s Got Talent variety show, a benefit for the Haldane School Foundation produced by Stacy Labriola and Craig Roffman, debuts at Beacon’s Town Crier on March 26. Parents will take center stage, showing off a range of skills rumored to include singing, juggling, drumming, joke telling, storytelling and beyond.
Labriola and Roffman’s original idea was to do a storytelling evening, but concerns about getting enough participants morphed that idea into a variety show. Labriola explained the idea behind it:
Parents always go out and support their kids at talent shows, concerts, sporting events, school plays etc. We thought it was time to let the parents have a little fun. The Towne Crier was a great venue last year for the MotherLode concert also benefiting the HSF. So we decided to do it there again. And maybe the kids can come out and support us for a change? Why should they have all the fun?
Recruitment emails were sent out, along with ye olde word of mouth, setting a few parameters, the main one being that parents could perform with their children, but for once it’s all about the parents. “We need variety,” one notice said, requesting jugglers, comedians, tap dancing, rock bands, yoga poses to music, original songs, funny parodies. And that’s pretty much what has resulted: a mix of parents known for their performing, with quite a few who have kept their talents hidden thus far.
The lineup is still a work in progress but promises to include a mixture of jazz, opera and rock vocals, Labriola herself covering a White Stripes song on drums: adult tap dancers who study with Katie Bissinger, some comedy, possibly a girl group, definitely another edition of the teacher dance number, which always knocks ’em dead at the Haldane Talent Show, and lots of et ceteras. Labriola and Roffman will emcee.
Spouses, grandparents and most of all kids are most definitely encouraged to attend and welcome to cheer and jeer, but, said Labriola, “I hope the kids and adults will be as kind and encouraging to one another as the kids are at the Haldane School talent show.”
The door opens at 6 p.m. for dinner, and the show starts at 7 p.m. All net proceeds benefit the Haldane School Foundation. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at townecrier.com for $25, or at the door for $30; they are $15 in advance and $20 at the door for those under 18. The Towne Crier is located at 379 Main St. in Beacon, and the phone is 845-855-1300.
Just about anything Stacy or Craig put their hands on around here is a big success. So if they’ve teamed up for this event, it will be a blast– and hopefully a new tradition. Thank you both!