Nellie Konopka ’16: Open Mic Night has become a highly anticipated tradition at Episcopal. The second Open Mic Night of the 2012-13 school year took place on Friday, December 14th, and the crowd that gathered in the Ridgeway Black Box Theater was not disappointed. At 6:30 that evening, over fifty students and several faculty members piled into the smaller of Episcopal’s two theatrical venues, which had been expertly decorated with white holiday lights. To accommodate the larger-than-usual crowd, extra chairs were added. Despite the additional temporary seating, some spectators ended up sitting on the floor.
For many Episcopal students, the appeal of Open Mic Nights is obvious. Jon Barr ’14, a veteran Open Mic Night performer, explained his affinity for Open Mic Nights, stating, “It’s an excellent opportunity to showcase the artistic talent of the Upper School. The performances, the food, the atmosphere—it’s almost more of a social event than a show. It’s an important part of EA culture.”
The formula for a successful Open Mic Night is fairly straightforward. Students and teachers come to the Black Box Theatre, free food is provided, and everyone shares his or her unique musical, literary, or dramatic talents. The spectators are supportive and everyone is excited to see what the performers have prepared for the occasion. Episcopal’s Open Mic Nights have always been well received, and the December 14th show was no exception.
The show opened with a performance by Clellie Merchant ’14 and Natalie Stuart ’14. Both Merchant and Stuart have regularly attended Open Mic Nights in the past as either spectators or performers. This time, they performed original monologues poking fun at the senior class’s current angst regarding the college application process. This hilarious act hit close to home, especially for the seniors in the audience, and provided some much-needed comic relief. Using a variety of hypothetical, yet realistic, admissions essays, Merchant and Stuart had the crowd roaring with laughter.
Next to the stage was the cast of The Love of Three Oranges, which was divided into two groups: one for the male actors and one for the females. Both sang, with the exception of two females who kept the beat with cafeteria cups on the wood floor during the girls’ rendition of the popular YouTube video covering Robyn’s song “Call Your Girlfriend.” Maria Burke ’14 had a great time participating in the performance, describing it as, “not nerve-racking at all, like you’d expect it to be. The crowd is so appreciative and fun, and it’s a great place for a first time performer.”
The Love of Three Oranges cast was followed by Joanie Hofmeyr ’14 and Ayo Maja ’14, who performed two songs: “Green Eyes” by Coldplay and “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz. Maja played acoustic guitar, and his melodic playing suited the audience’s mellow mood and complemented Hofmeyr’s vocal talent.
Other performances included Rem Williams ’15, who led a guessing game involving original writing pieces. The Improv Club presented next with a game that doubled as a performance. Cruce Merchant ’16 sang a cover of “Expectations” by Belle and Sebastian accompanied by his father on guitar.
Flash Mob, Episcopal’s teacher-exclusive band, also performed covers of songs, this time by the Beatles (complete with vocals evocative of John Lennon) and Bruce Springsteen. Belle Kielty ’13, in her first Open Mic Night appearance, performed a wonderful rendition of a Regina Spektor song.
The December Open Mic Night was a resounding success. Those who attended but did not perform added to the enjoyment of the evening by being an attentive, enthusiastic, and supportive audience. Brady MacManus ’15, a regular Open Mic attendee, summed up the appeal of Open Mic Night by saying, “I enjoy it because it’s fun and creative. There’s a general sense of community and acceptance that definitely adds to the night. Open Mic Night is a place where you can share your work, whether it’s acting, writing, singing, etc., without being judged on what you do.”
The Episcopal Academy