The fine arts department will host a showcase from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 27 in the downstairs commons. Students from theater, speech and debate, Ovation choir, band and art will perform.

Audience members will enjoy free desserts and drinks provided by Drama Club members. Admission is free, but patrons are encouraged to donate if they wish.

“Look forward to a laid-back evening,” speech and debate teacher Stefanie Rodarte-Suto said. “Everybody will just be able to take a seat around the table and watch what we do.”

This is the first time every fine arts department has collaborated to produce a showcase.

“I think it’s exciting, because it’s the first time we’ve done this,” theater teacher Kylie Howell. “This will be kind of a test run, to see how it goes and what we need.”

Howell said the idea for the showcase started as a speech and theater showcase.

“Mrs. Suto and I talked about the possibility of showing off some of what the speech and theater department does throughout the year,” Howell said. “The more we talked about it, the more we brainstormed and thought what a great idea would it be if we could involve all of the fine arts programs in some way.”

Both Howell and Rodarte-Suto said the showcase is meant to feature some of the programs which receive less attention through the year.

“We hope to showcase some of the different students and their performances,” Rodarte-Suto said. “That way we can give the community a chance to see what we do. Besides large stage productions the theater puts on–or really for us, just competition–a lot of people don’t understand what we do.”

Rodarte-Suto said the showcase will also serve as a recruitment opportunity for the fine arts programs.

“There are long-term benefits to the fine arts,” Rodarte-Suto said. “As you step into college and the world beyond school, that involvement and that exposure can help you find a voice. It can help you become more confident and be able to interact more.”