Laila Plamondon '08 Named First Smith Superstar
Katie Chase
Issue date: 3/16/06 Section: Arts
Though I'm usually glued to my TV on Thursday nights at 9:00 p.m. to watch "CSI," I made an exception last week to go to Smith Superstar - and I definitely don't regret it! Grissom is nothing compared to Pat Skarda jumping around in a manner rather unexpected from an English professor.
Hosts Hayden Howland '06 and Arianne Abela '08 started off the night by announcing a hilarious introduction video featuring the judges: Deanna Joseph, director of College Chorus; and Jonathan Hirsh, director of the Glee Club and Orchestra; as well as Carol Christ. Of course, anything with Carol Christ in it is automatically awesome, and this video was no different - after winning Hirsh's directing baton by beating him in a game of Go Fish, she attempts to use it as a magic wand.
After a performance by Groove, Jennifer Gabrielle '06 started off the competition by singing "Think" by Aretha Franklin. All performers had the option of performing karaoke-style with background music, but some chose not to.
Next came Danielle Charlemagne '09, who made the gutsy choice to sing "Black Magic" a cappella. In her beautiful golden gown, it was hard to believe that she never sings in front of people, except in church, which she explained before beginning her selection. Two other contestants also made the gutsy move to sing a cappella: Itoro Udofia '09, who sang "Feeling Good;" and Julia Wu '08, who sang "A Moment Like This."
Two contestants chose to sing Lauryn Hill songs: Elena Williams '06 sang "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You;" and Liz Mongrello '09 sang "Killing Me Softly." Mongrello really commanded the stage and knew how to work the mic.
Next came Laura Jacoba-Epstein '08, who really changed things up by accompanying herself on her guitar while singing "Wild Thing," complete with the spoken "Wild Thing, I think I love you," which the crowd cracked up at. Her personality was just awesome, and she really made the song her own.
The last two songs couldn't have been more different - Kaitlin Rawluk '06 sang "To The Moon" by Frank Sinatra, and Laila Plamondon '08 sang "Lady Marmalade" from "Moulin Rouge." Rollick was very classy - and classic - in an elegant black dress, and the song showed her vocal ability well. Judge Deanna Joseph agreed, mocking Randy from "American Idol" when she commented: "Dawg, you're the dawg, man!"
Hosts Hayden Howland '06 and Arianne Abela '08 started off the night by announcing a hilarious introduction video featuring the judges: Deanna Joseph, director of College Chorus; and Jonathan Hirsh, director of the Glee Club and Orchestra; as well as Carol Christ. Of course, anything with Carol Christ in it is automatically awesome, and this video was no different - after winning Hirsh's directing baton by beating him in a game of Go Fish, she attempts to use it as a magic wand.
After a performance by Groove, Jennifer Gabrielle '06 started off the competition by singing "Think" by Aretha Franklin. All performers had the option of performing karaoke-style with background music, but some chose not to.
Next came Danielle Charlemagne '09, who made the gutsy choice to sing "Black Magic" a cappella. In her beautiful golden gown, it was hard to believe that she never sings in front of people, except in church, which she explained before beginning her selection. Two other contestants also made the gutsy move to sing a cappella: Itoro Udofia '09, who sang "Feeling Good;" and Julia Wu '08, who sang "A Moment Like This."
Two contestants chose to sing Lauryn Hill songs: Elena Williams '06 sang "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You;" and Liz Mongrello '09 sang "Killing Me Softly." Mongrello really commanded the stage and knew how to work the mic.
Next came Laura Jacoba-Epstein '08, who really changed things up by accompanying herself on her guitar while singing "Wild Thing," complete with the spoken "Wild Thing, I think I love you," which the crowd cracked up at. Her personality was just awesome, and she really made the song her own.
The last two songs couldn't have been more different - Kaitlin Rawluk '06 sang "To The Moon" by Frank Sinatra, and Laila Plamondon '08 sang "Lady Marmalade" from "Moulin Rouge." Rollick was very classy - and classic - in an elegant black dress, and the song showed her vocal ability well. Judge Deanna Joseph agreed, mocking Randy from "American Idol" when she commented: "Dawg, you're the dawg, man!"