A Night for the Centuries: Talent Show 2023
Anticipation hung in the air, cloying and heavy, as the audience waited with bated breaths, eyes eagerly pointed forward. On the screen, a countdown ticked, minute by minute, second by second.
0:30… 0:20… 0:10… 0:05…
0:04…
0:03…
0:02…
0:01…
0:00!
The seats erupted with cheer, speakers blaring Royalty Free TV Show music as Act I's MCEEs sashayed to the stage. With a wave and a jaunty welcome, the LIS 2022-2023 Talent Show started with a bang.
Settling into couches toward the left corner of the stage, Student Council President Olivia Lee, Vice-President Halena Chan, and 7th Grade Representative Raffy Thomas yielded the floor to the opening performance of the night: an AP Stats parody of Taylor Miley Cyrus' Party in the USA."
The AP Stats class's witty performance immediately set the tone for the show to come: an amalgam of crack energy and talent. The class sang their hearts out—all for a completion-based FRQ. (Behind the sound system, Ms. Portem guffawed. "It was an MCQ, not FRQ!" she corrected between bouts of cheering.)
Following their performance was a thrilling dance led by Coach Thomas. The auditorium erupted into raucous cheer—the loudest of the night—at Thomas, Dongmin, Seth, Mincheol, and Junil's moves to the classics of the century. Unrestrained and flamboyant, their maxed-out charisma levels elicited an enthusiastic standing ovation.
Following that was a cover of "Brazil" and "Dark Red" by Borynet and Rayana Chen, with Borynet singing and Rayana playing fingerstyle on the electric guitar. Captivating yet soothing, their combined vocals and instrumentals wowed the audience into silence. (Many anonymous interviewees claim their performance was the best.)
Next, disaster struck. In the middle of Caroline, Annie, Jing Jing, Hayoung, and Jooyeon's dance, a power cut shrouded the room in pitch darkness. Despite this, they carried on the moment the lights flicked back on and the music connected. The crowd lauded their tenacity.
Ending Act I was a duet by Logos' star vocal pair, Shareen and DongWon. Their crystalline vocals and symphonious harmonies to "Missing You" lulled the audience into a melancholic calm.
A few corny jokes and an MCEE switch later and the crowd was in an uproar again. Situated on the couches was now Sophomore Representative Odom Dana and Junior Representative Paul Jung, both revered throughout the school. Their humorously awkward MCEEing drew chuckles and teasing call-outs from the crowd.
After the brief respite, the crowd was hit by the iconic jazz opening of "Careless Whisper," Daniella casually flipping her hair aside as she invited the audience into song. The auditorium all waved to the sensual melody, voices joined as one.
Following her performance was a hype dance number by the LIS Dance Club, their sharp choreography resembling that of a junior KPop group. HeeWoo and Joy Choi stole the show with their dual dance break, seasoned Logosians screaming for the renowned dance duo. (It would be their final Talent Show dance together.)
Afterward was a Chinese lullaby sung by Selena Cue. The audience clapped their hands to the beat to prevent falling asleep to her soothing melody.
The night concluded with the long-anticipated senior-dance—the single performance the whole show had been building toward. As the beat picked up, Justin and DongWon stood from amid the audience, slipping on their sunglasses and rising to the stage. The crowd's reaction enlivened the auditorium. As a community, the audience joined in lauding the seniors' dance to "Gentlemen," "Gee," "OMG," "Tell Me," and "Sunny." With a final lyric of "I love you" (Halena and Justin having been lifted to form a heart) and parting words from the MCEE, the audience was ushered out.
As the StuCo members, backstage workers, tech staff, performers, and audience filtered out, they all shared one sentiment:
Truly, it was a night for the centuries.