Arts students entertain downtown

April 10, 2010|By MATTHEW UMSTEAD

By Joe Crocetta, Staff Photographer

HAGERSTOWN -- Dressed in 1920s-style clothing, friends Willa Hawn, Madison Celebre and Lydia Winebrenner ambled about in the first block of South Potomac Street in Hagerstown on Saturday night.

Hahn was portraying Coco Chanel and Winebrenner was Greta Garbo -- both cultural icons of the era.

The freshmen at the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts were taking part in the Roaring Twenties Gala, a red carpet fundraiser for the school's artist-in-residence programs and ancillary needs.

While seemingly enjoying the attention, the trio admitted they might never again wear the outfits except "maybe for Halloween."

Sophomore Carly Whiteman, a member of the school's vocal program, didn't have to wear a shimmy or flapper dress to experience a "wow" moment.

Whiteman, joined by members of the school's newly formed rock band, performed Eric Clapton's song "The Core" in the middle of South Potomac Street before the school's students' second performance of "Thoroughly Modern Millie" at The Maryland Theatre.

"It was very exciting ... great experience," Whiteman said.

The musical theater production, the school's first, is a musical spoof of the 1920s and is framed around Dillmount, a woman who moves to New York City and falls in love.

"It's not even going to seem like a high school play," Whiteman said of the performances by her peers.

Cynthia Perini, president of arts school's foundation, said supporters hoped to net $20,000 from the gala, which was attended by 160 people.

"It looks pretty good that we'll be able to get there," Perini said.

During the show's intermission, organizers expected to auction an authentic Mexican dinner for six hosted by Washington County Public Schools Superintendent Elizabeth Morgan, a one-week Cape Cod vacation, five tickets to all arts school events for the 2010-11 season, a one-week getaway to Ocean City, Md., and a Millie-inspired wall hanging.

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