THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 28, 1996 TAG: 9601260229
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
Carolyn Myers, the talented and classy Great Bridge High School choral teacher, is busy leading a rehearsal in the school choral room.
With reverence and dignity, Myers directs the singers.
Gesturing like Robert Shaw before the Atlanta Symphony Chorus, a group Myers once sang with, the choral teacher motions as the voices begin, ``two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun!''
Finally, the ``chorus'' of teachers breaks up with laughter, as does Myers.
A few minutes later, another teacher walks into the choral room, wearing a black fright wig. He's about to rehearse a take on Michael Jackson's hit song ``Beat It.'' But on Tuesday night on Great Bridge High School's H.B. Blevins Auditorium stage, the group of English teachers will be moonwalking to the tune of ``Read It.''
No, exam week hasn't driven the entire Great Bridge High faculty crazy.
They're just all good sports, ready to perform at this Tuesday's annual 1996 Faculty Follies, sponsored by the Great Bridge High School Choral Department.
This year's wacky offering, ``G.B. TV: Teacher's Features'' will take healthy potshots at television and video culture.
Now a favorite school tradition, the follies have been a way for the school's faculty and staff to let off steam, show off hidden talent, help the school's choral groups, prove they're all good sports, laugh and present an entertaining evening lampooning everything from local politics, school and administration personalities, popular culture and everything else in between.
Myers said this year's production will see the participation of more than 60 school faculty, administrators and staff members.
``The script came from my warped mind but with much input from many other teachers,'' Myers said. ``Many of the ideas, concepts and scenarios have all come from other teachers.''
And it seems many Great Bridge teachers should have been writers for ``Saturday Night Live,'' Letterman or Jay Leno.
``Some of the stuff they've come up with is simply hilarious,'' Myers said.
The skits send up everything from public broadcasting, trashy talk shows, commercials, situation comedies, soap operas, classic shows, news broadcasts, MTV and country dance shows. There'll even be a send up of ``Beverly Hills 90210'' to be called, what else? ``Great Bridge 23320.''
The show's masters of ceremonies will be teacher Ed Welliver as Father Guido Sarducci and Karen Fletcher as Marge Simpson, complete with huge blue hairdo.
The evening will be entertaining for another reason.
``We've only had about three days to rehearse all this, so who knows what's going to happen Tuesday?'' Myers said with a laugh.
In a serious note, Myers said these particular follies will be a very special one for the faculty.
``This will be the last year the entire Great Bridge High School faculty will be together,'' Myers said. ``Next year, with the opening of the new Hickory High, half of the faculty will go on to that school. This will be special.''
As an added treat and additional fundraiser, the follies will be preceded by the Confection Cabaret, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the school commons area.
Sponsored by the Choral Boosters group, this event will feature entertainment and baked goods from the school's choral students.
``Students will perform in solo and ensemble settings,'' Myers said. ``There will also be a buffet of gourmet desserts and coffee supplied by Gloria Jean's Beans.'' ILLUSTRATION: AT A GLANCE
WHAT: 1996 Faculty Follies, ``G.B. TV: Teacher's Features,'' and
the Confection Cabaret.
WHO: Sponsored by the Great Bridge High School Choral Department
and the Great Bridge Choral Boosters.
WHERE: The school's commons area and the H.B. Blevins Auditorium.
WHEN: Tuesday at 8 p.m. The Confection Cabaret begins at 6:30
p.m.
COST: Combined tickets for both the follies and cabaret are $5.
Individual tickets are $3 a piece. Call Carolyn Myers at 482-5191
for more information and to reserve tickets.
by CNB