Broadway musicals showcase and sing-a-long

PALMER — People of all ages from across the Mat-Su shared their eclectic musical talents at the Palmer Train Depot Thursday for the Broadway musicals showcase and sing-a-long, a fundraising event for Colony High School’s marching band’s trip to Normandy, France, next year.

“A big shout out to Janel Gagnon for organizing last night’s fundraising Broadway Musical Showcase! Thanks to all the performers, MC’s, The City of Palmer and the Palmer Arts Council for the free venue, and Brenda Carpenter Davis for an amazing bake sale….” Kelly Steele Rentz wrote on Facebook. “… a great turnout-And it was FUN!!!!”

It was clear by the turnout and amount of money collected that evening- there’s a lot of support from the community at large for “Thee Northern Sound Marching Band,” the Valley-raised, premier, pioneering and most prominent marching band in Alaska.

“Who is one of only 13 marching bands invited to play at the 75th anniversary of D-Day Celebration in Normandy, France in June 2019? Thee Northern Sound marching band. Wow, right? And we thought Macy's was the pinnacle,” said, Janel Gagnon, who spearhead this concert in a rather spur of the moment fashion.

The concert raised more than $1,500 for the France trip. Palmer artists creative advocate and writer of Palmer Art Buzz, Barbara Hunt helped out with the event. Hunt tallied the donation money to announce the total amount as the event was wrapping up. She was just shy of $1,500 and quickly implored the crowd to scroung up the last couple of bills. A handful of people jumped out of their chairs carrying green bills. She made the cut and even sent a few stragglers back to their seats, jesting, “we don’t need your money” and the room bellowed with laughter. The laughter turned into a ear shattering applause when Hunt revealed the total amount raised.

“It was a great turn out I was very pleased,” Gagnon said.

Gagnon’s idea was simple and proved to be fairly effective based on the results, talk to friends, take to social media and get a lineup of people in and out of school who want to share their favorite songs from Broadway musicals. This drew a lot diverse talent pool, with several quirky audience members, particularly those whom appeared to be either current or reformed theater kids from high school, blurting out jovial jokes and banter throughout the show.

From Hamilton to Phantom of the Opera, the three-hour show seemed to a slice of something for every musical/theatrical enthusiast and of course, the countless friends and family that came with.

“You are guaranteed to recognize many performers,” Gagnon wrote in an email leading up to the show and it appeared she was right.

As these sorts of events often do, the high school fundraiser brought almost every walk of life from across the Valley under one roof.

“I thought it was fantastic!” CHS band director, Dr. Jamin Burton said.

Gagnon and her son, Finn, performed Cabernet Battle 1 from the musical “Hamilton”. She said they worked on it for a long time.

‘We listened to “Hamilton” for well over a year in the car,” Gagnon said.

CHS will continue raising funds at numerous events throughout the year until their flight leaves next June. Their next event will be on Aug. 28 when they perform a concert at the Alaska State Fair.

“If anyone needs to make a France payment using credit card, I will be available on Monday, July 30, 3:30 PM at Colony High to take those payments,” Jana Moser wrote in the CHS marching band Facebook group.

To learn more about the CHS France trip and how to make donations, contact Burton at: jamin.burton@matsuk12.us.