The “With Liberty and Justice for All” choir concert included the music and history of the various Civil Rights movements in America. 
 
Opening day for the concert was May 7th at 7:00 pm. The concert was not comprised entirely of songs, however.  Different choir members recited quotes from important civil rights contributors in addition to a narration.  Adrian Gutierrez, a performer for choir, exclaimed, “I think it is a great way of learning the past.”

It took a lot of practice to prepare for the show.  “Well we’ve been
practicing in class for many, many weeks; choir working on the songs and the speakers working on their parts. It takes a lot of hard work and many weeks of practicing,” said Mr. Lindfors.

Throughout the show, choir members sang after the narrator gave a brief history of African-Americans and their struggles. The narrator first talked about how the first Africans came to America as slaves and ended with how they achieved the equality they have today.  Mr. Lindfors, the director of the show, said, “I thought it was an important theme.  I like the idea of teaching history through music and acting; not just reading it out of a book.” 

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The lyceum had a very patriotic feel.  A projection of the American flag was displayed on two, opposite walls.  There was an additional flag hanging over the podium.  When asked if this was intentional, Mr. Lindfors said, “Yes, every day over the loudspeaker they say ‘stand up and say the pledge and the pledge ends ‘With Liberty and Justice for All.’  And, historically, if we look at that, what does that really mean?  That’s what we’re trying to explore in this concert…Do we really understand what we’re saying?”

Sebastian is a choir member who performed in the concert.  His mom, Elvira Sosa, commented on the show, “I loved it.  I thought it was very interesting.”  Most of the songs were well received by the audience.  At the end of the concert, there was along applause indicating a pleased crowd.  “I thought the narration was really good,” noted Mrs. Sosa.

 Some concerts that the choir class performs are not recurring, so they may only be performed once.  “We kind of change everything every year,” Mr. Lindfors commented.  For those of you who did not attend this show, there are no guarantees that it will be performed again.  Be sure to catch the next show, Mesa.

Miles and miles of smiles were all that were seen on opening night of the drama department’s musical, "Smile.” Even with a few microphone problems in the opening act the musical outshone it.

The setting for the musical is a pageant held in Santa Rosa, California. Girls from all over come to compete to become the next, Young American Miss. There's drama, tears, homesickness, comedy, sabotage and even a bit of racism.

Before the girls performed in front of an audience, they were brought a special guest to teach them some tips on how to be a pageant girl. Miss America 2001, Angela  Perez-Baraquio, answered and demonstrated answers to questions asked about waving, smiling and other pageant-musts.

She attended opening night and said, "They're amazing and I saw them during rehearsal and they're just phenomenal."