On Saturday Sept. 23, the JWU players hosted a fantastic open mic event. It was free and entirely hosted by the players. The event started at 7 p.m. and was located in the Wildcat Centre lounge, fully equipped with lights, audio, and mics. Comfortable chairs, high-rise tables, and couches were made available. There were no concessions on offer, but people were able to bring snacks and food in.
To start, an announcement was made that the event would be delayed due to technical issues. The delay lasted nearly 45 minutes, and the attendants were getting antsy. The turnout was low at first, but the delay allowed time for more people to show up and join. Several people invited friends to come and show their support. As soon as the projector and audio were working, the mood changed, and anticipation filled the room. The Player's president, Angela Savoca, announced the theme and invited anyone present to participate. The theme was “Broadway, Baby!”. All the songs that were sung came from musicals, plays, and anything on Broadway.
Next, the singers took the stage (in this case, the floor) to perform. Christian Ahearn sang “Build A Wall” from Shrek: The Musical. His voice radiated throughout the room, and claps immediately followed his performance. More notable performers included Luna Burkland, who sang “Far From the Home I Love” from Fiddler on the Roof, and Grace Gerard, who sang “Home” from Beauty & The Beast. Audience members were excited for Mackenzie Houllahan’s cover of “What’s Wrong with Me” from Mean Girls because it’s such a popular musical. Another song from a well-liked musical that was performed was “There Are Worse Things I Could Do” from Grease, sung by Shannon Burns.
Overall, the event was a success and provided students with a chance to perform in front of a live audience. It was also a great source of entertainment and gave people the opportunity to meet and interact with some of the players. This year, the players will be very active! They’re set to host an escape room, a musical, and another open mic on November 18th.
