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Neil Cummins Variety Show

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Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 5:00 - 8:00 pm in the Gym

Lights! Camera! Action! The Neil Cummins Variety show is a beloved annual event where Hawk talent is on full display. The entire community is invited as 2nd-5th graders sing, dance, jam, and perform the night away. Get all the details on this page.

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KEY DATES

  • Informational Parent Zoom: Date TBA

  • Sign-ups: Open Jan 15 at 7 pm until Jan 23 at 9 pm

  • Previews: Jan 26 or 28

  • Rehearsals: Feb 3 - 27 (all performers must attend 2 rehearsals)

  • Tech Rehearsal: Tuesday, March 10, 3:00 - 5:30 (mandatory)

  • Show night: Wed, March 11, 5:00 - 8:00 pm

PARENT ZOOM

Join the Variety Show leaders for an informational Zoom session, on Jan 12 at 7 pm. Registration and link will be shared via Parent Square.

Can’t attend? A recording will be available after the session. 

PERFORMANCE SIGN-UPS

  • Performance sign-ups are open Jan 15 at 7 pm until Jan 23 at 9 pm. No exceptions.

  • Please submit only 1 sign-up per act/group. 

  • Acts must be no longer than 90 seconds.

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REHEARSAL INFO

All individuals, groups, and acts must attend 1 preview, 2 rehearsals, and the dress/tech rehearsal. Acts must attend together so please find times that work for everyone in your group. Rehearsals take place in the Neil Cummins Gym unless otherwise noted. If illnesses or unexpected events arise, please email ncvarietyshow@gmail.com to work out an alternate plan.

Previews 
MANDATORY, sign up for 1
Preview days are the first rehearsals where we do a quick run through of the performances to get a taste of all the acts. Acts should be well-rehearsed at this point.

  • Preview 1: Monday Jan 26, 3:00 - 4:15, Gym

  • Preview 2: Wednesday Jan 28, 3:00 - 4:15, Gym

 

REHEARSALS
MANDATORY, sign up for 2
Performers must attend at least 2 regular rehearsals AND the Tech Rehearsal (not including Preview Week or Tech Rehearsals)

  • Rehearsal 1: Tues, Feb 3, 3:00 - 4:15

  • Rehearsal 2: Mon, Feb 9, 3:00 - 4:15 

  • Rehearsal 3: Wed, Feb 11, 1:40 - 3:00 

  • Rehearsal 4: Tues, Feb 24, 3:00 - 4:15 

  • Rehearsal 5: Wed, Feb 25, 1:40 - 3:00 

  • Rehearsal 6: Fri, Feb 27, 3:00 - 4:15 

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TECH REHEARSALS
MANDATORY, all performers, no-sign ups
This final tech rehearsal is a full run-through of the show with lighting, sound, costumes, etc. It helps performers get used to the stage and mics and work out any kinks.

  • Tuesday, March 10, 3:00 - 5:30

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A note about previews and rehearsals: All children will need to be picked up from the gym and signed out by a parent volunteer.  Should you wish your child to leave without an adult, please email us. â€‹

SHOW INFORMATION

  • Showtime is Wednesday, March 11 at 5 pm

  • Location - Neil Cummins Gym 

  • Performers arrive at 4:30 pm. 

  • Doors open at 4:45 pm. No parents are allowed in the gym prior to 4:45 even if they are dropping their child off.

  • Show starts at 5 pm

  • The entire community is welcome to this free show; no tickets required.

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VOLUNTEER SIGN-UPS

​It truly takes a village to put on this show and volunteers are critical. We need help in all areas including tech, music, rehearsals, programs, and the performance. We ask that families with performers sign up for at least one volunteer slot. Please consider giving your time!​

GUIDELINES AND HELPFUL INFORMATION

Act rules

  • Participation is open to all students in Grades 2-5. 

  • All acts must sign up by January 23. No exceptions.

  • Performers can only be in ONE act.

  • Each act can be up to 90 seconds long, but no more.

  • Maximum performers per act: 6

  • Acts must provide their own instruments, equipment and props. We are unable to store equipment at the school or be held responsible for broken equipment. It is the sole responsibility of the performer’s parent(s) to transport and set up the equipment for performances. Exception is using the school piano.
     

Act best practices

​Performers need to consider their performance for the stage. Be creative! Performers can do the following:

  • Sing. Live performance, rap, or opera. Please no lip-syncing.

  • Play an instrument. Perform solo or with a band. Apart from a piano, you need to have your own instrument.

  • Choreographed Dance. Acts will consist of synchronized movements choreographed in advance. No free-styling dances.

  • Skits. A popular option with scripted lines and props. Consider how the performers will perform with mics.

  • Gymnastics or Sporty Demonstration. Some equipment may be allowed on stage like mats. Please email the committee if you have questions.

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Acts that are not allowed:

  • Acts that are difficult to see. Small card demonstrations, Rubix cube solving, yoyo acts, shadow dancing, puppet shows etc. are too challenging for all the audience to see.

  • Dangerous for the performer and the audience. No knife/axe throwing, wheels (e.g., skateboards, roller skates, etc.), flying sports balls, or live animals. Again, if you have to ask it likely is a no.

  • No costume changes of any kind on stage.

  • No throwing/launching of objects on stage, except as agreed upon by Variety Show organizers ahead of final performance.

Music​

  • We are looking for variety with song choice so please prepare an alternate song choice or plan to sign up early if you plan to perform to a popular song. Song choice will be approved on a first-come, first-serve basis. The goal is variety!

  • Songs and performances must be appropriate for an elementary school show and be aligned with school rules for costumes, language, topics in skits and song lyrics. Please review song lyrics to ensure they do not contain inappropriate words or references. 

  • Anyone performing with a song needs to email their final, edited to fit their performance MP3 file to ncvarietyshow@gmail.com marked with the child’s name as file name, by January 31 at 9 pm. 

  • Singers will be required to sing into a microphone with a backing track or other accompaniment. No lip-syncing will be allowed. Karaoke version of your songs can be found at:


 

5th grade MCs

  • Any 5th grader may put their name in the hat to be an MC. The Variety Show team will randomly select the MCs. 5th grade MC rehearsals will be held on March 3 and March 5 in addition to March 10 for tech rehearsal.

​The 2026 Variety Show team is comprised of parent volunteers Beth Blair, Hannah Miller, Natasha Murphy, and Melanie Schier

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Questions? Don't hesitate to email the team: ncvarietyshow@gmail.com

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