Opening Night is Here! Churchill Performers Recall Favorite Blast Memories

Blast 25: Mixtape, the 25th anniversary of Churchill High School's renowned musical revue, opens tomorrow night, Friday, February 21!

As more than 130 student singers, dancers, musicians, and technicians were putting their final touches on this year's production, the Blast 25 Potomac Patch blog caught up with four more seniors who shared their thoughts on Blast, past and present.

Elana Freije paints a vivid picture of her fondest Blast memory, recalling, "Freshman year, we'd come through those doors at the end of the show and our leads would make us take pictures with all the kids in their number."  She added, "We'd all be together one last time, smiling and laughing."  Elena joins nearly every senior interviewed in pointing out that the friendships forged during a Blast career were perhaps the most important aspect of the entire experience.  This year Elena will be singing Donna Summer's Hot Stuff and choreographed Love Shack.  A talented dramatic actress as well, Elena has applied to theater programs and is waiting to decide what school to attend in the fall.

Zoey Maggid shares Elena's warm memories of her Freshman year Blast experience.  During her first "all cast" number, Zoey joined "all my friends, the leads, and backups and I could finally see there was a huge family involved with Blast.  To see the camaraderie and the smiles on everyone's faces and see the audience go wild...that was the best moment because it really defined what Blast is for me."  Zoey's lead this season is Bad Romance.  Although she will be immersing herself in pre-med studies next year, Zoey says she "hopes to join an a capela group and maybe do some musical theater in college."

Daniel Wigle started Blast as a sophomore with multiple back-up rolls.  He says, "It was a lot of fun and I had to work really hard to learn all the music and choreography.  It was a great learning experience."  Daniel will be one of the leads singing Suit and Tie and joined Adam Settlage to choreograph that number along with Haven't Met You Yet.  Daniel plans to attend Montgomery College next year and following his time there will consider majoring in performing arts.

Gloria Samen credits her Blast experience for "exposing me and helping me hone my passion and skill in the performing arts."  Her favorite Blast memory happened backstage her sophomore year:  "I was curling my hair for my number and it was really nice having all my friends around me and all their support.  It says a lot about the friendships that are formed in Blast."  This year, Gloria's leads will pair her with two fellow members of Churchill's Jazz Ambassadors show choir, Natalie Hwang (Any Way You Want It) and Kristina Hann (Son of a Preacherman).  Not suprisingly, Gloria hopes to join an a capela group at college next year.

The curtain rises on Blast 25: Mixtape tomorrow evening, Friday, February 21 at 7:30pm.  It will be perfomed at the same time on February 22, 28, and March 1 with a 2:30pm matinee performance this Sunday, February 23.  The box office will open one hour before showtime.   Advance tickets are available online at www.wchsarts.com.  Online ticketing ends at midnight the day before each show.  The Potomac Patch Blast 25 blog hopes its readers will support the arts and all the hard working and talented students involved in this production by coming to the show.