A Christmas nightmare exceeds expectations

While bringing in the efforts from beginning and intermediate drama, Diamond Bar High School’s theater department prepared for their annual winter showcase, delivering, as per usual, an energizing and imaginative performance to their crowd. 

This winter, DBHS department presented two vastly different shows in the duration of one. Act one of the Winter Showcase allowed beginning and intermediate drama to shine as they delivered their student production of “Holidays Tales From Around the World.”

This act of the show included various stories of holidays around the world, including Hanukkah, Diwali, Chinese New Year, and Christmas. Beginning and intermediate drama truly know how to bring energy onto the stage to their albeit small crowd; although some jokes were overlooked by the audience, their enthusiasm and determination were greatly showcased.

After intermission, the theater was illuminated by advanced drama’s opening song to their adaptation of “The Nightmare Before Christmas” called “A Christmas Nightmare.” 

The sets of this act fit perfectly with the showcase’s winter theme, and each set helped capture the essence of the original film. 

Adapted by seniors Dana Yang and Sarai Garcia—who have been writing the show’s script since the summer—the film’s story was perfectly interpreted while adding in new elements of their own. Garcia delivered another powerful and shuddering performance as the Oogie Boogie, her vocals capturing the attention of each audience member as per usual.

Junior Karen Lee’s performance as Sally really left the audience speechless. Each one of her solos was treasured as she beautifully delivered songs from the original film, all while encapsulating the frantic, yet kind-hearted character of Sally impeccably.

The sprinkled performances from Lock, Shock, and Barrel throughout the show seemed to be a crowd pleaser as each line delivered from the trio resulted in roaring applause and laughter from the audience. 

Drama’s wardrobe and costume elements were the cherry on top of  their superb performance. Costumes were handled by junior Alexis Chisholm, seniors Aeron McCoy, Judy Han and Spencer Song, while hair and makeup was handled by Danny Valdez, Eliana Rodarte, Karen Lee and Sophia Morookian. 

Junior Karen Lee was beautifully costumed as Sally and the costuming of seniors Alexis Chisholm and Spencer Song’s Santa costumes easily conveyed Jack’s faulty impersonation of Santa Claus.

Allowing beginning and intermediate drama to shine in this showcase showed all of the capabilities that the theater department has to offer, proving their ability to deliver a fresh and exemplary performance.