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All-City Variety Show returns Saturday
By Denise Dick
Youngstown
It’s a return Saturday to the good old days when city high- school students pitted their talents against one another to determine who reigned supreme.
The Return of the All-City Variety Show runs from 6 to 10 p.m. at East High School. It’s a fundraiser for the intramural third- through sixth-grade elementary school sports program that begins this fall. The sports program is a partnership between the city schools and Finer Things Academy Inc.
“Back in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, when there were six or seven city high schools, each would have a variety show and then once per year, they’d all go to the All-City Variety Show,” said Kathy Hammond, president and CEO of Finer Things Academy which is presenting the show. “They haven’t done that in almost 20 years or more.”
The theme of the revived event is “Ole School vs. New Skool” and it includes 25 acts — some who competed years ago showing off their breakdancing and pop-locking prowess and younger contestants performing the latest steps.
Tickets are $8 and available at the door.
East High School seniors Lajuan Thomas, 18, and Troy Blackmon, 19, will show off their dance moves as part of the show. They formed their group, 2 Hype, a couple of years ago but don’t often get to perform for an audience.
They’ll combine some old and new dance steps in their performance.
“We’re going to do our best,” Thomas said. “We’re not going to settle for less.”
The intramural elementary sports program beginning this fall will allow third- through sixth- graders to participate in softball, girls volleyball, cheerleading, boys and girls basketball and track and field.
Students may sign up now at their schools for the fall girls volleyball.
“It’s a vision of mine to have a sports program to teach kids organization before they start on the junior-high level,” said David Hight, sports commissioner for the program and host of the variety show.
The school district is starting the sports program as a way to foster a sense of community with the elementary schools, officials have said.
Hight said practice and games will all be after school, Monday through Friday.
An East graduate, Hight competed in the variety show during his high-school days. Saturday’s version will have 14 “ole school” and 11 “new skool” acts, he said.
“It’s people of all ages,” Hight said.
Dancers, singers, a rapper, a mime and a poet are among scheduled performers.
Singer and city native Keysha Toney, who recently released a CD, will be a special guest at Saturday’s show, and three guest judges will determine the winners.
“It’s just going to be fun,” Hammond said.