Permian High School’s Black Magic spring show will take you to the Top of the World May 2 and 3 at the Ector Theatre.
Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the Ector Theatre website, theector.com
Laurie Alfred Wash, director of Choirs at PHS, said the theme this year is On Top of the World with Black Magic. Performers will include Black Magic and Panther Paws.
She said the theme was influenced by the recent trip to New York where many in the group sang at Carnegie Hall.
They have been working on the show, which features upbeat, inspirational pop music and dance, for the semester.
“Everyone come and join us and we appreciate the support of the community,” Wash said.
Dylan Chavez, a 16-year-old junior, and 17-year-old junior Jacob Lechtenberg are each in their second year in Black Magic.
If anyone were on the fence about coming to see the show, she would tell them to go for it.
“They have nothing to lose. It’s a few hours out of their day where they probably be sitting at home and they could come watch us and give us support,” Chavez said.
She added the relationships she’s made with people is what she has enjoyed most about being part of Black Magic.
“You get close with people like you wouldn’t in any other group. It’s not like sports where everyone has tough love. It’s constructive criticism from everybody and it’s a really loving and peaceful place to be in,” Chavez said.
She is also in Kantorei, the top varsity choir and in Voca Lyrica, the varsity women’s choir.
Chavez said she wanted to join Black Magic since seventh grade when she came to see a show.
“I had came to a Black Magic show for the first time when director Ken Sieloff was a director here and just seeing the relationships that you could see on stage with people, the dancing, the singing, the soloists, the skits that happen, it was just so intriguing and ever since then, I just wanted to (join),” she added.
Lechtenberg said he’s really excited about the upcoming show.
“I think it’s going to be a great time and I think a lot of people will enjoy themselves at this show because we like to not only entertain people, we also like to try to include the audience in the experience so whether that be going out into the crowd, or doing different things to show … it’s not just us on the stage. … We’re trying to include the audience as well in the experience,” Lechtenberg added.
Like Chavez, Lechtenberg was prompted to join Black Magic in middle school. His choir teacher got him tickets and encouraged him to go to the show.
“I was on the fence. I was like, hey, this looks kind of hokey. This doesn’t really look like my thing. And instantly when they started I was like this is something I want to be a part of. … So finally, being in this group, I’ve had so much fun and I like to also inspire the people. I think if you’re on the fence it’s a fun time (to) get away from the rest of the world and have a good time,” Lechtenberg said.
He’s had nothing but fun in the group.
Black Magic members and parents were working on building and painting the set for the show on a recent Tuesday. They don’t mind putting in the extra time.
Chavez said it’s satisfying to know people will see not only the work she puts in on stage, but on the setting for the show.
“As of right now, it’s a very trust the process type of deal. But I know in the end it will be a good show. Ms. Wash is working so hard to just have us all looking good and sounding good. I think it’ll be a good show,” Chavez added.
Lechtenberg said he loves being involved in making the sets because he gets to see all the different pieces coming together.
“Just seeing you know, okay, I put not only working with the music and getting better myself, I also put work into the set itself, and it makes it more satisfying. That’s like, oh, I put work into this and it wasn’t just somebody else doing it for me. It just, it’s more satisfying for me,” he added.
He is also in the varsity men’s choir and mixed varsity choir.
