By Isaac Seigemund-Broka
Staff Writer
Holiday cheer has come to the stage at Mira Costa.
On Dec. 8, the Mira Costa Drama Department hosted a Winter Benefit show, a student-run fundraiser for the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation. The show was run by seniors Kendall Busby and Meg Luthringer and featured a variety of winter and holiday-themed performances put on by Mira Costa students.
“I am really excited for this year’s Winter Benefit because I get to do something I love—play music—in order to help raise money for a good cause,” freshman Jon Sullivan said.
Auditions took place on Nov. 16, and some students auditioned during their drama class period while
others auditioned after school. Of the 33 acts that auditioned, 23 were chosen to be in the show.
“I was very impressed with all of the students at auditions,” Busby said. “It was very hard putting together a cast, but my main goal was to broadcast as much talent as I could—especially from the students
who have not had an opportunity to be in the spotlight.”
There is a great degree of diversity in the performances of the Winter Benefit. Vocal solos and duets, violin pieces, a choreographed dance number, one full band performance, improv sketches, original scenes and monologues were all included in these festive acts.
“This being the first holiday benefit show, I had no idea what to expect when it came to what people would put together,” Busby said. “The diversity of the acts will make this show different than any of the shows our department has put on in the past.”
The holidays are often thought of as a time for generosity and charity, and the Winter Benefit follows suit. All proceeds of the event will go to the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation to thank the foundation for all it does to aid Mira Costa students.
“We chose MBEF because they have really given to our community before, and we thought that they deserved some donations and recognition for all that they do,” Luthringer said.
The performers agree that MBEF is a fitting organization for the show’s revenue given its direct impact on the success of Mira Costa and its students.
“We recognize the important role the MBEF plays at Costa and the terrific work they have done for our school system,” performer and senior Eli Rivas said. “We thought that we should put on a benefit show for them.”
Be it Christmas, Hanukkah or simply winter, it is mandatory that each act is related to the holiday season. This ties in to the show’s philanthropic nature and is an attempt to bring holiday cheer to the community.
“We want to share with the community a show that will put people in a holiday mood, with winter songs and scenes that everyone can enjoy and participate in,” Luthringer said. “It’s all in the spirit and feeling of the holiday season.”
Aside from the fall and spring productions, the Drama students have few opportunities to showcase their skills. The Winter Benefit aims to provide a stage for Costa’s budding dramatic artists.
“Not everyone gets to perform during the shows, so the Winter Benefit is a nice way to get to see the talent of younger or shyer kids who maybe didn’t or couldn’t audition for the plays,” said junior Sawyer Fuller.
In addition to the performance in room 1, the show was broadcast via a live webcam, allowing people to watch the acts from home. This provision was created in large part to allow college students—Costa alumni in particular—to watch their friends while away at school.
“I think that the webcam idea is great, especially for us college kids who grew up with the Costa Drama Department,” alumnus Madison Swart said. “It is really helpful in extending the entertainment to everyone who cannot personally attend.”
The Winter Benefit also allows artists to try new things and creatively branch out in a non-competitive setting.
“This is my first time singing a solo in front of an audience so I’m pretty nervous, but I’m looking forward to being in the first holiday benefit show and I can’t wait to see how it turns out,” junior Gracie Markland said.
While the holiday event has passed, one can still donate to the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation to support the generous contributions that this organization provides to the community’s schools.
“With the Winter Benefit, we have two goals: to give back to our community and to give everyone in the Drama Department an opportunity to show their talents and have a moment to shine,” Luthringer said.
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