May 27, 2004

Style sets the stage at Leland High School’s fashion show

By Lorraine Gabbert
Staff Writer

Leland High School students strutted down the aisle, struck poses, and had the time of their lives Friday evening modeling for their annual fashion show. The fashion show, produced by students, is always the school year’s highlight, and this year proved no exception. Attended by an appreciative audience of about 300, this revamped edition has been hailed the school’s best yet.

More than 50 jazzed junior and senior girls and guys modeled in the show, and another 50 had to be turned away at audition. “It’s a lot of fun and has become one of the most popular events at Leland,” states event co-chair Rupa Patel. “Everyone wants to be a part of it.” In addition to the students, three teachers—Miss Brasher, Mr. Kerwin, and Mr. Rodriguez—joined in the runway fun, delighting the audience and camping it up during a “P.C. World/Nerd” scene.

As music pulsed through their bodies and lights tracked their every move, the models’ attire reflected the show’s themes of “spring,” “boxer (sleepwear),” “girls,” “business,” “sports,” “P.C. world/nerds,” “beach,” “rock ‘n roll,” and “prom.”

“Some of the themes were old standards like ‘spring’ and ‘prom,’ and some were our own,” noted Patel. “The nerd scene we just thought was fun.” Co-chair and choreographer Jillian Lucas agrees. “My favorite scene is the nerdy one,” laughs Lucas. “I had to convince people to be in it—and I think it turned out great—it’s the one you can have the most fun with.” Lucas also created the rock ‘n roll theme, combining ideas from Rolling Stone magazine and previous shows.

Although in the planning stage since December, the details and rehearsals for the fashion show, coordinated by students Rupa Patel, Jillian Lucas, and Christine Chang, came together in a mere two weeks.

The show also featured humorous skits between each segment that entertained the audience, while allowing the models a chance to change their wardrobe. The emcees, who included Brett Hammon as Mr. Prescott; Lironn Chitayat as his secretary; Stacy Dean as a goth writer with model aspirations; and Ellen Shieh as a heavily-accented fashion-photographer-wannabe, sang and acted out scenes stolen from Mogue Magazine.

“The emcees came to the first practice, saw the clothing themes, and came up with the skits to tie the pieces together,” remarked Patel. “Our creative juices started flowing,” recalled Chitayat. “We just sat down and did it,” added Dean. “We had a week to put it together. We picked characters out of cliques at school.” At the end of the show, Mr. Prescott learns to appreciate his staff, promoting his secretary to vice president, and featuring his goth writer as a model, photographed by Shieh. “I never had more fun,” affirmed Chitayat.

Lucas, who was also a model in last year’s fashion show, took on the job of coordinating it this year because she knew what needed to be improved to make the show run better. “I knew it could be a more entertaining show, so I wanted to get involved,” she contended. “We changed the show’s whole format, hired a professional stage lighting company, videographer, and D.J., and rearranged the runway,” she said. “We made the runway twice as wide, helping the flow, and allowing the models to pass each other and keep walking.” They also shortened the show from three hours to an hour and a half. “For me, the hardest part was pulling it all together,” observed Lucas, “and the most rewarding part was seeing it all come together flawlessly and seeing the models and everyone enjoy it.”

For Patel, besides staying at school until 10 p.m. almost every night for two weeks rehearsing for the show, coordinating the fashions proved challenging. “It was hard finding stores willing to lend the models’ clothing,” she noted. Although Papaya, Tuxedo Warehouse, Foot Action, and Finish Line came through, many of the models ended up buying their own clothes for the show. “Most fun was seeing everyone at the show screaming and getting into it,” Patel remarked, “and seeing it all come together on the stage. The models had a lot of fun. They got to be really creative with their outfits and their mini-skits. Jill choreographed the walking patterns, but they got to make it their own. I’ve heard from a lot of people say that it was the best show ever. I’m definitely glad I did it. It was a lot of work, but there were so many good times and memories that I’ll remember forever.”

“It’s a really good show. The lights and the music are definitely better than last year’s,” observed student Amy Nishimoco. “The clothes are cute and everyone looks like they’re having fun.” Student Kathleen Roberts agreed. “I like it a lot too. I like the fashions so much I think I’ll wear some of them.”

“I think it’s great,” said parent Cheryl Ryan. “The kids put it together themselves and they did some really creative stuff. My daughter loved being in the show with her friends. It’s a great way to end her senior year.”
“It was really fun to put on the clothes and perform in front of people,” enthused model Brittany Palumbo. “I’d definitely do it again.”

“I thought it was really fun and exciting,” shared model Roxanna Benjamin.

Model Jenna Ramona agreed. “It was an adrenaline rush,” she said. “The crowd was really good, and the D.J. and the lighting were amazing. It was the best show ever. The fashions were really cute–the girls’ and the boys’ both. They had different stuff and it all tied together.”

“I thought the students did an outstanding job,” commented Vice Principal of Activities and Student Advisor Cliff Mitchell. “It’s a lot of fun and it’s really neat to see the work they put forth really shine. They did an amazing job tonight. I believe it’s the best show that Leland has put on so far. Jill Lucas put a lot of her heart and soul into this production, and as everybody can tell, it really paid off.”