All alone on the stage, Leona Cushna raised the microphone to her lips and started to sing, The third-grader was one of several performers in the Willow Avenue Talent Show on March 8.
But she didn’t get far. After a few bars of “One Call Away” the accompaniment stopped. Leona didn’t panic. She smiled at the audience and waited for some technical assistance.
Her second attempt ended as abruptly as the first. Again, she remained calm as a phone was substituted for an iPad. The third go-around worked like a charm. By now the audience members must have known most of the lyrics. And they cheered loudly as Leona completed the song without a hitch.
Ironically, her experience reinforced what the students had heard earlier in the day. Principal Greg Schmalz had told them that the character trait for March would be “patience.”
Much to his surprise, Mr. Schmalz became a part of the show. It happened when “Amazing Joe” (also known as Joseph Kramer) asked for an assistant for his magic trick. Hands went up around the auditorium. The magician looked at his schoolmates and then asked the principal to come up on the stage.
Mr. Schmalz drew a face on a quarter, which remarkably showed up inside a tiny box that was packaged inside several larger boxes. After the show, the school administrator admitted that he didn’t know how the trick was performed.
The evening started with the school’s new drama club presenting an abridged version of “Tiger Lily.” Olivia Perrone, a former Willow Avenue student, directed the show, which included several familiar characters from “Peter Pan.”
The evening ended with Jay Langlois doing his highly regarded impersonation of Michael Jackson. Before Jay moonwalked across the stage, the audience saw musicians, comedians, gymnasts, singers and dancers — proof that Willow Avenue School has talent as well as patience.
