By Angela Marshall
One hundred metropolitan area choirs were contacted, and 30 were invited to audition for Madison Square Garden's annual holiday show. Although auditions are always tense, this one was especially poignant because the 10-year-old production will end its run this year. Rockville Centre's chorus went in with the advantage of experience and came out a winner once again. Only the La Petite Musical, from PS 390 and MS 330 in the Bronx, has been with the show longer, having performed all 10 years. Members of La Petite gave the South Siders a standing ovation after their audition.
The show's choir role is shared by four schools so that no single group must bear the commitment of appearing in all 60 performances.
David Schmittou, angel choir director for the production, visited the middle school last week to run the choir through its blocking and to talk to parents about the immense commitment they were making. He said that after the auditions, conductor Mark Mitchell said it was "the best Rockville Centre has ever sounded."
About 175 South Side students auditioned for a chance to be part of the 30-member chorus. Ten of the winners were members last year as well.
During the Wednesday rehearsal, the choir was divided into two groups, each assigned to a different side of the stage, and arranged in order of size. While Lisbeth Lora is normally annoyed by her diminutive stature, this is one case in which it works to her advantage. Not only does it mean she's small enough to meet the show's height restriction of four feet, 10 inches, but she also gets to lead one of the 15-member teams. Ryan DeMarco will lead the other team.
As Schmittou put the 11- and 12-year-olds through their paces, he didn't mince words. He let them know exactly what was riding on their young shoulders, including the fact that every mistake they made would be seen by thousands of audience members. "You guys gotta listen and pay attention," he told them.
The choir performs during a pivotal scene in Charles Dickens' classic Christmas tale about Ebenezer Scrooge, the miserly old man who learns the error of his ways through visits from three ghosts on Christmas Eve. A different star takes the role of Scrooge every year. This year's talent is Jim Dale, who has been honored for his recordings of the five Harry Potter books on tape.
Just after Scrooge realizes that Tiny Tim, the crippled son of his long-suffering assistant Bob Crachet, will die, he has an epiphany, and the choir voices burst forth from above in the sweet strains of one of the show's most well-known songs, "God Bless Us Everyone."
The choir takes center stage when it returns to reprise the song along with the rest of the cast during the finale. "Anyone in that theater is looking right at you," Schmittou told them. "You're very much the center of attention."
As they moved into lines for the finale, Schmittou reminded them that the stage at Madison Square Garden is about twice as wide as the one at the middle school.
Middle school choir director John Pinero and band teacher Todd Shusterman filled in for cast members so the students could get a feel for where they needed to stand, because during the show about 100 people will be on the stage during the finale. The two teachers accompany the choir to most of its 15 performances. Parent chaperones fill in for any performance the teachers can't make.
"Really good job, guys," Schmittou told the choir when the rehearsal was over. He said they were ready to "sing, smile and sparkle."
Many of the choir members are following in the footsteps of their older brothers and sisters. Three of Elisabeth Oldis' brothers have been in the show. Shelley Cotter is also a legacy member. Her older sister Danielle was in the show for two years and is now a sophomore at South Side High School.
"I just think it's fabulous," said the Cotter sisters' mother, Janice. "There's no opportunity like the one they're doing now in the world."
Last year, the choir helped break a Guinness Book of Records mark for the largest Christmas carol ever, when area business owners gathered singers on the steps of Manhattan's Eighth Avenue Post Office near Madison Square Garden. The South Siders also appeared on "The Today Show." They had to leave Rockville Centre at 4 a.m. to make their 5:30 a.m. call. Many brought pillows and blankets to sleep on the bus.
Cody Ni, who is appearing for the second year, said her favorite memories are of backstage activity. She said she made many new friends, playing games and doing homework while waiting for the choir's entrance. Caroline Horowitz said she learned six new card games backstage.
Because some of the performances are during the day, the choir members miss some school, but they are required to do their homework before they can goof around.
With the rotating schedule, South Side won't perform in the final show, which disappointed chorus members. They will, however, have the honor of taking part in the performance that will be reviewed by The New York Times.
"We've had a great run," Pinero said. "I don't know what we're going to do next year to top this."
He praised Michael Abresch, former director of performing arts for the district, saying, "Mr. Abresch laid the groundwork. It's all simple now."
Tickets for "A Christmas Carol" may be purchased at the Madison Square Garden box office or by calling Ticketmaster at (212) 307-1000. Discounts are available for groups of 20 or more by calling Madison Square Garden Group Sales at (212) 465-6080.
Performances
Friday, Nov. 28, 1p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 29, 11 a.m., 2 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 5, 5 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 7, 11 a.m., 2 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 11, 11 a.m.
Friday, Dec. 12, 5 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 13, 11 a.m., 2 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 19, 8 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 21, 5 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 26, 7 p.m.
