Findlay First Edition presents Cabaret

FINDLAY — Findlay High School's show choir, Findlay First Edition, will present its annual Cabaret this weekend, on May 2-3, in the R.L. Heminger Auditorium. Now in its 41st year, the student-led performance marks the conclusion of the FFE season. Showtimes are this Friday at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and students. "It's a time honored tradition of the group. This is the one opportunity where students choose the material themselves and they work up the numbers on their own," said FFE Director and Fine Arts Specialist David Coolidge. "They all get a chance to flex their artistic muscles in a variety of ways. It's a true variety show." Unlike FFE's structured competition shows, the students showcase and explore a variety of artistic talents during Cabaret through solos, duets and group numbers. With supervision from the creative team behind FFE, students are responsible for choreographing and rehearsing their own numbers. "This is the opportunity for them to really take ownership over it, make it their own, and put forward music that they're really passionate about and excited to present," said Coolidge. The show is broken into two acts. The first act begins with a group number, followed by individual acts. Act Two consists of a group number, individual acts, and concludes with the competition shows. As tradition follows, FFE alumni are invited to the main stage to sing with current members for the final song of the evening. Act two of Cabaret includes a tribute performance of "Aquarius" from "Hair," in remembrance of former FFE member and Broadway legend Gavin Creel, who died in 2024. Opening group numbers are choreographed entirely by this year's dance captains, students Lily Perkins and Lauren Post. "They have done an exceptional job as dance captains," said Coolidge. "We felt that they were up for the challenge of choreographing these group numbers." Saturday's matinee will include an opening performance by Electric Youth, the middle school show choir at Findlay. This is the first time the junior show choir will be joining FFE onstage for Cabaret. "We thought this would be a great opportunity on the Saturday matinee, which is when some of the younger audiences come, for Electric Youth to actually open the show," said Coolidge. "It gives those kids in the audience a view of where they can start and where they're going with the show choir here in Findlay City Schools." FFE's instrumental ensemble, The Boingers, will be providing musical accompaniment throughout the show. Cabaret is the final show of the school year. For seniors, it's also their final performance as members of the show choir. "It's also an emotional time," said Coolidge. "It's their last chance to put forward the work that they want to put forward with their friends. We like to really think about this performance as a true celebration of the students and look forward to our alumni coming back and celebrating both the past and the future with us." Coolidge said that support from the community has been a key part in FFE's success. "So many things have changed in this last year, but the two things that have remained constant with FFE is a love for the students and a love of the music that we make," said Coolidge. "I really hope the community can come in, throw its arms around FFE, once again, and just celebrate the joy of music." Tickets will be available at the door one hour before each performance.