Seniors Katie-May Newman and Kallista Schneiderman were recently selected to be the emcees for Talent Show 2025, which runs from Feb. 20-22 . If you would like to be part of the show, audition videos are due Saturday.
What inspired you to audition for Talent Show Emcees?
Schneiderman: “Well, I’ve always really loved to perform ever since I was little, I really liked to act, and I also really like to write. And so those passions combined for this talent show emceeing where I get to both write my own material and act. I also really like to make people laugh, which is kind of the whole point of being an Emcee.”
Newman: “I love making people laugh… and I get to do it with one of my favorite people ever Kallista Schneiderman, who gets my humor like no one else, and it’s just an unforgettable experience. I’m so excited.”
What makes you guys such a dynamic duo?
Schneiderman:“I think Katie and I feed off of each other really, really well. We have a similar sense of humor and a similar style of humor, so I think we’re able to not only bounce ideas off each other but play off each other when performing.”
Newman: Schneiderman“Sometimes Kallista will say things that I didn’t even realize I was thinking, but I’m already thinking it…We also wrote a play together over this summer called Hot to Trot for student-directed one acts, and it was like we were thinking the same thing at the same time it was crazy.”
What does the role of Emcee entail?
Schneiderman: “The Emcee is essentially the host of Talent Show. So aside from announcing the different acts as a host would do, the Emcees also get to perform little skits in between some of the acts to add a bit of comedy and to break up what is typically several musical acts.”
Do you have a favorite Talent Show memory from last year?
Newman: “I love going out on stage at the end, with the confetti and everything…it was so much fun. I think it was the energy and the people, it’s just perfect.”
Are you participating in any other roles for the show?
Schneiderman: “Yes, I am also the director of social media for the show, which means that I get to promote the show on Instagram and just get people excited about it.”
Newman: “I am director of photography this year and I am so excited. I was an assistant photographer last year for Talent Show and I’ve taken my favorite photos ever during rehearsals and the performances, and it’s just such a unique experience to photograph. I’m also helping out with social media.”
How do you develop your ideas for the skits between the acts?
Schneiderman: “Once we have an initial idea whether we get that from a from like a TV show or something someone says, or just something that inspires us, that would think, oh, that would make a good skit. Then, we take some time and really flesh it out about what we want in the skit or if we have a specific joke that we really want to include. So then when we write it, it’s much easier to map out.” –
Do you plan to incorporate this year’s Wild West theme into any of your skits?
Newman: “Yes, ma’am, every single skit that Kallista and I have is Western-themed. We are so excited for this theme!”
What are you most excited about for this year?
Schneiderman: “Talent Show is always a pretty chill environment and it was always just a lot of fun. So I’m really excited for one of my last shows in this high school as a senior to be able to just have fun and spend time with my friends for the last time and with my co-emcee Katie and I think it’s just gonna be an uplifting experience for everyone involved.”
Newman: “I think just the whole of being there. Tech week, the dress rehearsals, the performances, hearing people laugh, hearing people clap, it’s amazing.”
Who should come to see Talent Show?
Schneiderman and Newman: “Everyone!”
