On Friday, January 17, Cranford High School hosted its third annual Open Mic Night in the Dr. Deborah Cannon Partridge Wolfe Library. This event highlighted the amazing talents of Cranford students. Refreshments and give-aways were provided by a Cranford Education Association via the New Jersey Education Association. 

MC’d by senior Adrianna Pizzuta, president of Cranford’s chapter of the International Thespian Society, and talent managed by senior Molly Sample, the night featured a variety of monologues and musical numbers from multi-talented Cranford High School students. After a brief introduction from Adrianna, senior Lillian Kelly opened the night with her own rendition of “Fake Plastic Trees” by Radiohead. Lillian, like numerous other student performers, accompanied her own vocals with guitar. 

Later, junior Megan Moritz, an AP Music Theory student at the High School, demonstrated her talents as she performed her own original song, “Starborne.” Sophomore Lola Clifton followed with a powerful performance of “Gimme Gimme,” from Thoroughly Modern Milly. Afterwards, Molly Sample and Lillian Kelly sang a duet of “Big Yellow Taxi” by Joni Mitchell. These two will also be performing as leading ladies Roxie Hart and Ms. Sunshine, respectively, in Cranford High School’s production of Chicago this March. 

The school’s soprano-alto acapella group “West End Blend” opened the second act with their performance of “Stupid Cupid.” The second act also featured the night’s two monologues by Adrianna Pizzuta and junior Riley Turnamian. The show’s penultimate act was a strong duet by junior Sofia Monroy and senior Nico Rengifo. Sofia and Nico are both members of the school’s choir program. The two sang “Little Talks,” by Of Monsters and Men. 

Lillian Kelly and fellow senior Claire Ficarro closed out the night with “Let the Light In” by Lana Del Rey. This marked the end of yet another successful open-mic night at CHS!