In a collaboration between the Cranston East drama and music departments, Wednesday, March 23, the stage in the East auditorium lit up with energetic, exciting and interesting performances by students of Cranston East.

The MC's for the evening were Niceo Aponte and Daisy Mayoh. Jovanni Oliver played the launch pad before the show started and during intermission.

The Jazz Band performed two songs, “Gorilla Man Blues” by Mark Taylor and “Blue Bossa” by Kenny Dorham, arranged by Mark Taylor.

Members of the band include Adrian Cartagena Capo, tenor saxophone; Troy Santopadre, alto saxophone soloist; Aggerlynn Vetiaque, alto saxophone; Jeramiah Coss, alto saxophone; Jacob Nelson, trumpet; Griffin Martin, trumpet; Kevin Aldana, trombone; Peter Vannini, trombone soloist; John Rei, piano; Alexander Norberg, piano; Sean Curry, bass; Jacob McLane, drum soloist; and Joseph Scungio, drums.

Solo student performers were Tessa Belloti singing “I'm Gonna Love You” by Meghan Trainor; Carlos Coste performed with his guitar and sang Elvis Presley's “Can't Help Falling in Love”; Jenna House gave an emotional rendition of John Legend's “All of Me”; and Jamee Isme rounded out Act I with a dance performance to Beyoncé music.

After a brief intermission, the Cranston East Indoor Winter Percussion gave a tease of its performance that would close out the show.

Act II consisted of Thalia Martinez performing a flag routine, after which Sammy Schleifer sang “Burn” from Hamilton. Baeli Carroll did a stand-up routine combination of storytelling and poetry about getting through high school and all the challenges life throws at people. Karissa Dube sang “Grenade” by Bruno Mars and Herriell Menos impressed the crowd with his freestyle dance routine. Another singer was Luz Bettancourt performing “Stay” by Rihanna, and closing the show Kailey Fusco belted out “Scars to Your Beautiful” by Alessia Cara.

The audience then moved to the gym for the final performance of the night, which was the Indoor Winter Percussion band showing off its first-place piece, “Uprising.”

The Indoor Winter Percussion ensemble was made up of Ben Cruz, Ali Rei, Troy Santopadre, Peter Vannini, Jenna Barbarisi, Giovany Jiminez, Nadya Lehnert, Dan Norridge, Timothy Thongvilay, Joshua Deland, Jacob Nelson, Greyson Boudreau, Jacob McLane, Talia Parente, Kevin Aldana, Rory Araby, Tessa Bellotti, Kaidan Campbell, Adrian Cartegena Capo, Jeremiah Coss, Darien DiNaro, Domenic Fusco, Sagarika Ghosh, Jielan Huang, John Rei, Tonia Roberti and Thomas Yakey.

The fundraiser event brought in close to $1,000 in admissions and concessions.

"After we pay for the custodian for the evening we are splitting the admissions profit between music and drama while the concessions profit goes directly to the band. Additionally, music is splitting its half admission profit between choir and band – about 75 percent for band and 25 percent for choir," said Greg Arsenault, music teacher.

Indoor Percussion is competing in the New England Scholastic Band Association Championships on Saturday at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts.

For more information about the event visit www.nesba.org/events.