Boys & Girls Club Preps for “Incredible Journey”
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Queen and Frozen, Aladdin and Stevie Wonder, Toy Story and Michael Jackson will pair together in musical harmony when the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence hosts the 2017 Lights On Talent Show at Lawrence Free State High School, Friday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m. The public is invited and encouraged to attend the free event.
The annual talent show’s theme was the product of creative collaboration among BGCLK staff and kids. All 15 Club locations were given two categories to draw from. The first bucket was full of musically inclined Disney movies. The second bucket contained current and legendary musicians. Fittingly, the event was named as its own Disney movie, “The Incredible Journey: Quest for the Lights On Trophy.”
Hosted by Lawrence City Commission candidate, Mike Anderson, this year’s show will undoubtedly be a memorable night. One dashing dance team from each of the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence’s 15 sites will hit the LFSHS auditorium stage to showcase their moves and mash-ups. Other duos to expect include The Lion King and Garth Brooks, Beyoncè and Moana and Hercules and Maroon 5.
Per the usual for this event, the panel of judges will have their work cut out for them. They are tasked with scoring each dance, and ultimately, deciding who will claim the Lights On trophy at the end of the night. Fortunately, this group will be up to the task. The 2017 Lights On judges are: Hailey Gillespie (Theatre Lawrence), Margaret Weisbrod Morris (Lawrence Arts Center), Hannan Misko (Lawrence Arts Center), Codi Bates (Bon Bon, The Burger Stand, VanGo), Darian Bruch (Rock Chalk Dancer), Kara Daneck (Rock Chalk Dancer), Malyiah Finch (Dance Hues Studio) and Melissa Johnson (Lawrence School Board member).
All 14 elementary school Club sites will compete for the title, each creating a three-minute dance routine for the panel to deliberate. The Teen Center crew will keep the audience grooving as the judges tally scores at the end of the night before the winner is announced.
Launched in October 2000, Lights On Afterschool is the only nationwide annual event celebrating afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families and communities. The national celebration of Lights On Afterschool Day (Oct. 26) is a tribute to the organizations across the country that keep their “lights on” after school hours. Approximately 8,000 afterschool programs are expected to participate in the 18th annual Lights On Afterschool, holding rallies, science fairs, student performances, community service events, sports competitions and – in Lawrence’s case – a talent show.
The Afterschool Alliance organizes Lights On Afterschool to draw attention to the many ways afterschool programs support students by offering them opportunities to learn new things—such as science, community service, robotics, theater and the experience of traveling sporting events. The events send a powerful message that millions more kids need quality afterschool programs. As a partner of the alliance and the largest afterschool program in Lawrence, the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence works every day to help fill that need.