Due to the volume of performances in this showcase, scholars who already performed were not featured, along with scholars who participated multiple times during the third showcase. We appreciate and recognize the effort that these performers dedicated to perfecting their acts and apologize about the inconvenience. Each act was incredibly moving, and this was a difficult decision to make. We hope scholars understand!
The familiar sound of eager scholars anticipating this week’s showcase filled the air on Friday July 10th. To start the night, Jackson South played “Shake The Frost” on the guitar while singing along. He had a great voice and wonderful guitar playing skills. Some unique performances of the night were Nathan Brown’s bottle flipping performance and Judah Thornton’s rubix cube solving. Both acts were exciting and interesting to watch.
The night was full of beautiful vocal performances. Scarlet King gave a lovely performance of “Oh Mio Babbino Caro.” The song showcased her skill and wonderful tone. Scarlet wasn’t the only one with a great voice. Gracie Kufour performed “Never Enough” with wonderful sound and control. John Franshier did a great job singing “Close Every Door.” Some other vocal acts included “Something in the Orange” sung by Katelyn Dillon. She did an excellent job singing with control and power. Matthew Jones sang “By Your Grace” and Ella Benton sang “How Great Thou Art.” Both performances were emotional and lovely to listen to.
Not only did the scholars show off their singing skills but also their dancing skills. The Murray Bellas performed their take on “The Bellas’ Final Performance” which showed off their great coordination and teamwork. The Bellas had great dance moves and lip syncing skills. The performance was fun and upbeat. Zoey Porter and Lilly Drees showed off their dance moves while performing “Napoleon Dynamite.” While dancing, they wore bright orange wigs adding to their performance. Poetry was also a part of this week’s showcase. Addison Tavy Garland recited her poem “Kelland Ledford Garland.” The poem discussed her relationship with her father and how she will always be his daughter no matter what. It was emotional and beautifully written.
What would showcase be without some excellent musical performances. Daniel Smith performed “An Irish Song” which got the audience clapping along. William Jones played his guitar while singing “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind.” The song showcased his great playing and singing abilities. Some piano performances included “Beauty and the Beast” by Abigail Coty and “Lovely” by Kate Forbis. Both acts were wonderful. The last scholar act was a performance by The FLE. The band performed the song “Wonderwall.” The band was very talented and performed well together.
Once again, the third showcase was closed by the weekly RA update. The residential advisors (RAs) covered topics such as family day, the 4th of July, family feud, and the Amazon apocalypse. This week’s update also got scholars laughing. Each act was wonderful to watch and next week will be even bigger and better. Don’t be afraid to showcase your talents. There is only one showcase left of the 2026 GSP Murray season. Johnson Theater is waiting for you!
Performances in Order:
“Shake the Frost” – Jackson South
“Demons” – Helena Smith-Pohl and Elyse Smith
“Bellas’ Final Performance” – Murray Bellas
“Oh Mio Babbino Caro” – Scarlet King
“Beauty and the Beast” – Abigail Coty
“Tin Roof” – Wyatt Cox
“Close Every Door” – John Fransier
“Goodbye” – Jacob Masterson
“Lovely” – Kate Forbis
“My Way” – Kate Jarboe
“The Final Countdown” – Nathan Brown
“It’s a Long Line for Pizza” – Katy Floyd, Gracie Bond, and Triista Gilbert
“Blue” – Maggie Gerhard
“Cup Song” – Caroline Keith
“Never Enough” – Gracie Kufour
“Cubing” – Judah Thronton
“Kelland Ledford Garland” – Addison Tavy Garland
“An Irish Song” – Daniel Smith
“Something in the Orange” – Katelyn Dillon
“Lady Lay Down” – Hunter Barret
“How Great Thou Art” – Ella Benton
“Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” – Clara Reynolds
“Napolean Dynamite”- Zoey Porter and Lilly Drees
“Before He Cheats” – Ellie Mark
“Mu” – Felix Ding
“Perfect” – Trista Gilbert
“Peace of Mind” – Ben Ream
“By Your Grace” – Matthew Jones
“Speechless” – Abby Taylor
“Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?” – William Jones
“Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Anymore” – Grady Amick
“Wonderwall” – The FLE
Tech Crew: Stage Manager – Helena Smith-Pohl, Bridget Butler, Clara Daniels, Micheal Eades, Kelby Kenimer, Heidi Lechleiter, Anneliese McCray, Kaleigh Neel, Ethan Nichols, Brooklyn Sherman, Matt Zoglman
