With the theme of “Mojoflix,” Black Magic, Permian High School’s pop ensemble, will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday at First Baptist Church, 709 N. Lee Ave.
Head Choir Director Aaron Hawley said longtime emcee Allen Joines, who teaches teen leadership at Permian, is stepping out of the spotlight, so more cast members have been added.
The show includes 16 vocalists and eight band members, but there are more people involved when those helping backstage and ticket takers are added, Hawley said.
“The concept is they’re going to sit around and watch the latest season of Black Magic on ‘Mojoflix.’ … Everything is pretty much the same — the group numbers, the solos, the skits. It’s a great variety show. I think people should enjoy it,” Hawley said.
Reserved seating is $15 and going fast, while general admission is $10 and students get in for $5. Tickets are available at the door, or by calling 432-456-2399.
“We have plenty of general admission tickets, so we would love for people to come out to the show. We think it’s real reasonable at $10 and $5 for students and children,” Hawley said.
Most of the show is determined by students, with some adult supervision.
“We sit down after Christmas show and we throw out ideas and the students kind of landed on Mojoflix. The students pick their solos. They work as groups to learn their skits, so that is a unique aspect. Obviously, you have directors. You have people in charge, but this is a student project with adult direction. We’re still teaching; we’re still guiding along the way,” Hawley said.
Members of the Panther Paws and the jazz band will participate. Members of the theater program, the theater director and dance directors also help out.
This will be Hawley’s 14th show, and every year, the show is slightly different. He added that rehearsals can get extensive and long, but he doesn’t get tired of it.
“I enjoy the process,” Hawley said.
He added that math and English teachers teach the same thing from year to year, but teachers always try to find ways to make their instruction more innovative, for themselves if not the students, to keep it fresh.
Seniors Lathen Frederick and Lauren Simmons are in their first year of Black Magic, but this will be their last show.
“It’s not like what I imagined it to be. It’s a lot of hard work and we have to put in a lot of effort to make it look great,” said Frederick, 18.
He added that he’s nervous about the show, but it’s an excited nervous.
Frederick said he was glad to find out he got into Black Magic and had wanted to be part of the group since he was little. He added that it’s a lot of fun to put the skits together.
“They’re pretty funny, all of them so we’re hoping to get a good laugh,” Frederick said.
Frederick said he plans to attend Texas Tech University in the fall and study communications.
Simmons, 17, said she thinks the show is going to be really good.
“We’ve put a lot of work in it and we still have this whole week to go. I think it’s going to turn out great,” she said.
Being in Black Magic is a new experience for Simmons since she’s never performed much in front of people.
“I’m feeling pretty good. I’m a little nervous, but I think just everybody is. I’m feeling good,” Simmons said.
Having just started with Black Magic right before the Christmas show, Simmons said she’s sad this will be her last show.
“It’s kind of bittersweet, but I definitely think it’s going to be really sad on the last day but just for everybody in general,” Simmons said.
She added that her peers are all nice, friendly and talented.
“It’s just really great to be with them and we’re all pretty good friends, so it’s just fun,” Simmons said.
She plans to study nursing at Baylor University starting in the fall.
