Variety show to honor former principal

Wantagh residents looking for some entertainment can head down to the high school this Saturday night, as the Wantagh Foundation for Educational Excellence hosts its first variety show.

The event will feature 13 acts, including singing, dancing, instrumental playing and stand-up comedy. “We hit the nail on the head with a variety show,” said organizer and emcee Austin Costello. “We have a little bit of everything.”

There are solo and group acts. Participants range from elementary school students to those just out of college. Costello, a puppeteer, will be performing a marionette act.

The show is expected to be about an hour and a half with one intermission. Snacks and drinks will be sold.
It is being held in honor of former Wantagh Middle School Principal and Foundation member Dr. Jeanette Stern, who died in October from cancer. She worked in the district for 40 years, retiring in 2010.

Wantagh Foundation President Ralph Spagnolo is expected to say a few words about Stern at the event. Money raised from the show will go toward a scholarship to be presented to a member of Wantagh High School’s class of 2016.

Spagnolo noted that Stern was a member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, and was very involved in the teen program. “She was very, very supportive of the program and she was most loved by almost every student and teacher in the school district,” he said. “She should be remembered.”

Mark Sales, 18, who graduated last year, will be one of the performers. He attends Berklee College of Music, learned of the variety show on Facebook, and signed up because he knew he would be home for the weekend.

Sales will playing the saxophone, and his performance will include a mix of several well-known songs. He hopes to get a positive response from the audience. “I think they’ll like that it’s kind of different, seeing a saxophone player play solo, without any accompaniment,” he said. “I’m looking forward to showing people what I’ve been working on in my year at Berklee.”

Much of his time in Wantagh schools was devoted to music. He was a member of the wind and jazz ensembles, was drum major for the marching band and captain of the pep band. Sales said he hopes his performance shows young children in the audience the benefit of playing an instrument and sticking with it.

Sales said he is excited for Saturday’s event. “It’s cool because you get to see what kind of talents people have. It’s not just music,” he said. “If they do it again next year, I’d love to get back.”

Costello said the plan is for the variety show to become an annual event. He is hoping for a good turnout for the inaugural year. “I think this is something people are going to be sorry to miss,” he said.

Wantagh Variety Show

When: Saturday, March 19, 8 p.m.
Where: Wantagh High School auditorium, 3297 Beltagh Ave.
Tickets: $10 at the door or in advance by emailing wantaghvariety@gmail.com