by Rose Bostwick
Silhouetted against a colorful backdrop, 71 freshman dressed in all black with a pop of color took the stage to perform a collection of uplifting skits, songs, and dances. Directed by sophomores Clare Donohoe, Nora Geffen, Emma Richmond, and Rachel Stoia, Freshman Cabaret’s performance “I Got You” runs tonight  at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium.
The curtains opened to reveal the full cast on stage, performing the number “Young Volcanoes” by Fall Out Boy. A joyous, heartfelt number with fun choreography which included rhythmic clapping, the piece kicked the night off to an entertaining start.
A diverse collection of skits, songs, and dances followed the opening number. In the skit, “Elephant and the Balloon” from Black Books, freshman Katya Obeid portrayed an angry publisher giving a deadline to three children’s book authors, played by freshmen Lucas Pratt, Achille Ricca, and Andrew Ruttenberg. The humorous skit detailed the process of brainstorming, writing a simple story about an elephant losing his balloon, then destroying the manuscript because it was “too good.” Obeid, Pratt, Ricca and Ruttenberg all portrayed their characters hilariously, making this comedic scene one of the standouts of the night.
Later in the night, Freshman Cabaret’s hip hop dancers performed a routine to the song “Flawless” by Beyoncé. The dancers showed large amounts of talent and portrayed the song’s empowering mood through powerful, commanding choreography.
One of the show’s exceptional singing performances was Vance Joy’s popular song “Riptide,” sung by freshmen Aliana Ralph, Maddy Ranalli, and Maya Waldman. All three girls displayed large amounts of vocal talent through intricate harmonies, which made the familiar tune exhilarating.
The show came to a close with a song whose title mirrored the show’s title: “I Got You,” from the musical Bring It On. All 71 members of the cast came together in this uplifting, fun piece, which had difficult vocal parts, synchronized dancing, and a strong message about supporting one another.
The night was a great experience, and dancers, singers, and actors came together for a diverse and lighthearted performance. The wide variety of talent showcased at Freshman Cabaret shows a bright future for Theatre Ink.
Tickets are $7 and can be purchased online at Theatre Ink’s website.