They sing for credit

HCC's show choir take the stage as part of class

April 05, 2008|By MARLO BARNHART

HAGERSTOWN - After explaining that at least half of The Superlatives show choir members had not been on stage before, Korby Moss Sanders introduced 10 young people who performed as if they'd been born in a theater.

An appreciative audience of 70 to 80 people attended Friday evening's "Made in the USA" production at Hagerstown Community College's Kepler Theater.

"We've put together a history of American music," Sanders said. That included blues, rock 'n' roll, Motown and Broadway show tunes through the years.

Sanders said she started the HCC show choir in 2004.

"The show choir has always been popular in high schools, so we tried it here and it's going well," she said.

The Superlatives include five men and five women, all of whom are enrolled in her class.

They are Laura Bastille, Jaclyn Garrish, Bethani Mummert, Erika Cooper, Barbie Barvir, Chris Blickenstaff, John Dickinson, Billy Miser, Nick Reihner and Colt Smith.

"We have a performance every semester," Sanders said. The students, some of whom had no prior experience singing or dancing, earn three credit hours for the 10-week course.

Sanders conducted, provided the taped musical accompaniment and a little enthusiastic encouragement for her students.

"All music is based on appreciation," Sanders explained to the audience. She admitted to a kamikaze style of teaching dance, a comment that drew chuckles.

The Superlatives were dressed in black and white with occasional wardrobe changes for the dance numbers.

They often left the stage to walk informally among the audience as they sang.

True to the show's name, the performance ended with songs of America.

Friday night's program was free.

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