HOW TO GO
WHAT: Fairfield Crystal Classic
WHEN: Preliminary daytime round is 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; evening finals are 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Fairfield Senior High School, 8800 Holden Blvd., Fairfield
ADMISSION: Tickets are available at the door only. Admission for preliminary daytime round is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and children younger than 10. Admission for the evening finals is $14 for adults, $12 for seniors and children younger than 10. A $20 combination daytime/evening wristband is available.
MORE INFO: www.crystalclassic.org
Fairfield’s annual show choir competition, the Crystal Classic, goes back to the future Saturday at the high school with a 1980s classic.
While the Fairfield Choraliers don’t compete in the event, they and other Fairfield choirs host and perform. The Choraliers’ show, based on the “Back to the Future” movies, travels between the 1950s and 1980s, with such songs as “The Power of Love” and “Earth Angel,” both of which figure prominently in the original 1985 movie.
Traveling between time periods was not only difficult for Marty McFly but for the Choraliers as well, as they switch back and forth between ’50s and ’80s dance styles — as kids born in the 1990s try to keep them straight.
“Things we do now people never did in the ’80s or the ’50s … That was our biggest challenge, because we had differences in the choreography,” said junior Connor Bernard.
Many of the performers are different this year because several seniors graduated last year.
“I’m personally excited to see what the difference is and I’m excited because this is my first year in Choraliers,” said sophomore Emily Niehaus.
The Crystal Classic, entering its 16th year, brings in more than two dozen performing groups, with attendees numbering in the thousands.
To the mind of more than one Choraliers member, it’s a good thing that there’s no competition this weekend.
“Something that’s really fun about performing at Crystal is we don’t have the pressure of competing. So even though it’s a crazy day and we’re all running around, you get to get on stage, let all that off and just perform and have fun, and all the stress goes away,” said sophomore Laura Kirgiss.
Senior Sarah James said, “I love the performance at Crystal because you have no one rooting against you. Everyone there is on your side.”
Despite its “Back to the Future” theme, the Choraliers show will not have one popular feature of the movies: the hoverboard. According to the second movie, they’re available by 2015.
“We couldn’t get them made fast enough. But we do have a Delorean on stage. We have our car,” said the group’s director, Jeff Clark.
Local groups set to compete at the Crystal Classic include Hamilton, Ross and Edgewood high schools. The contest will also host several choirs traveling from as far as Mississippi and Virginia, according to the district.
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