Forest Hill Elementary students, and some staff, dressed as ‘Toy Story’ characters poured out of a box labeled ‘Andy’s Toys’ as ‘You’ve Got a Friend in Me’ played.
North Liberty School students performed the ‘The Itsy Bitsy Spider.’
W.A. Young Elementary students leapt around the stage for the Kapow Superhumans dance and song.
Freedom High School students performed a cheer routine to Aerosmith’s ‘Walk This Way.’
More than 300 students buzzed around backstage. Excited. Nervous. Hectic. Ready.
Children of all ability levels practiced for months at their schools before dancing, singing, and cartwheeling their way to the CoMMA last Friday, March 13, for Burke County Public Schools’ sold-out Inclusive Talent Show.
After traversing the packed parking lots and nearby streets, parents settled in for over two hours of jokes, songs, and presentations, which began with a video introduction.
A variety of students smiled onscreen, delivering the premise of the night: “It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being brave and being you.”
Exceptional Children Director Jessie Gravel said, “I think it’s a great reminder for the community that some disabilities are visible, some are not visible, and that’s why it’s always important to treat each other with kindness.”
Meghan Welty, exceptional children instructional coach and creator of the All-Inclusive Talent Show, worked backstage during stage rehearsal and the show.
“I wanted to create a show that allows our community to experience what I see every day,” Welty said, “that our students are incredibly talented and capable of amazing things. I also wanted to provide an opportunity for students who may not have had the chance to stand on a stage and shine.”
During dress rehearsal, students adjusted to the stage and the sound system. Backstage, they hung out in waiting areas intentionally packed with entertainment, structured activities, sensory-friendly items and environments, and snacks.
On the night of the event, some students still stood awestruck by the crowd, but many blossomed under the spotlight.
“It was incredibly special to see the auditorium packed that evening,” Welty said. “We believe our students have many wonderful talents to showcase, and we were thrilled that they were able to share those talents with a full auditorium.”
Last year, tickets sold out on the day of the event. This year, the second show sold out weeks in advance and every seat was filled.
As about 1,100 audience members filed into CoMMA at the start of the evening, they found colored kerchiefs on their seats, along with a note inviting them to join the last act.
The final song, “We’re All in This Together” from Disney’s “High School Musical,” saw a flood of all acts returning to the stage, waving their kerchiefs in the air. The crowd joined, and for a few minutes, the CoMMA became a sea of technicolor cheers.
