Schools

Los Alamitos High School Choir Wows at the Hollywood Bowl

About 100 members of the Los Alamitos High School choir preformed with the cast of "HairSpray" at the Hollywood Bowl.

Some artists go their entire lives dreaming of a chance to perform under and in front of the stars at the Hollywood Bowl.

But more than 100 Los Alamitos High School students did so this week, joining the cast of “Hairspray,” for a rendition of “You Can’t Stop the Beat” as thousands of fans cheered.

The students managed to pull off the performance despite the last minute arrangements for their participation. It may have helped that the teenage crooners have already performed at the Grand Ole Opry and as the national high school choir champions for two years in a row.

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“To be under the stars with that huge audience, and with the cast so welcoming, it was amazing for them,” said Lynnette McMahon, president of the Note-Ables Booster Club. “The cast gave them applause during the rehearsal, and that is one of the things that made the kids feel so great. It made such a difference with the big stars being so nice to the kids.”

“It is just a great way to kick off the year,” said Choir Director David Moellenkamp in a written statement. “These kids have really stepped up and shown themselves to be excellent performers on such short notice.”

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The students got to work with Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell to prepare for their roles in the play. Seated within the audience, they poured into the isles to sing and dance for “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” much to the surprise of the crowd.

“It was amazing, incredible and exciting and awesome opportunity,” said Cathy McMahon, a Los Alamitos High School Senior and member of Soundtrax. McMahon admitted to being a little nervous as she waited for her turn to perform, but the generosity of the cast and her experience at the Grand Ole Opry prepared her for the experience, she said.

The students worked throughout the week to nail three performances including choreography by Mitchell and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman. The work gave them the opportunity to work with and meet cast members such as Corbin Blue from “High School Musical," Nick Jonas and John Stamos.

 “It’s hard to top an experience like this,” said Moellenkamp. “But we will work hard to do just that.”

The Los Alamitos High School choir program includes five choirs, and it will have over 280 students enrolled this school year. Los Alamitos will present four shows throughout the school year. Their first show will be “Broadway on the Big Screen” October 13, 14 and 15.


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