Variety Show
The Glenbrook South Variety Show (often referred to as “V-Show”) features acts from across the school in a professional-level production, highlighting the diversity of student talent on an annual basis.
This year’s show is the 51st annual production Kaleidoscope, seeking students from all corners of the school to showcase their unique and amazing abilities. The 2026 Variety Show will be presented February 18-21, 2026 in the Watson Auditorium at 7 p.m..
Auditions
This year’s Variety Show, The 51st annual, Kaleidoscope will be performed February 18th-21st, 2026. We look forward to as many people as possible auditioning for the varied aspects of this show. Following is a list of information and suggestions to aid in structuring a successful audition.
GROUND RULES
Auditionees must be students of Glenbrook South with flexible extracurricular commitments for January and February. All auditions are closed (not open to the public, family, or peers) and no videotaping is allowed in the audition space. Once cast, each act will be scheduled for a combination of after school, evening, school holiday, and weekend rehearsals by their Act Director in order to edit the act for fit within the production. Each cast member must check the rehearsal schedule posted by their Act Director for changes and attend scheduled rehearsals promptly. Further details provided at the first cast meeting on Wednesday, January 15 after Finals.
CREATING A SUCCESSFUL AUDITION
Our job is to cast the most dynamic, entertaining acts from a large pool of talented students. Here’s what you can do to knock our socks off and stand the best chance of getting cast!
- Choose an act related to the theme
- Keep your act short (2 minutes and 30 seconds or less).
- Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse! Be performance-ready!
- Examine and prepare all details of your act: costuming, props, music, accompanist, act name, vision, etc.
- Live vocals only - no lip-syncing. Live instrumentation is also preferred; karaoke tracks should also be avoided.
- Groups are wonderful; solo/duet casting is difficult and rare.
- Check material and lyric content; you will be asked to copy and paste your lyrics at the audition. Lyrics must have wide audience appeal and appropriate subject while remaining relevant to the theme.
- Be creative! Show off your talents. Combine various elements…this is a variety show!
- See previous Variety Shows and Behind the Scenes packages at vimeo.com/gbstv for a better understanding of what has been done before and how you can best rehearse your act.
- Be professional! You should be prompt, prepared, and courteous throughout the audition and rehearsal process.
- HAVE FUN!
SINGER/DANCERS
AUDITIONS: Wednesday, December 10, 2025, 3:30-5 p.m. (dancing) and Thursday, December 11, 2025, 3:30-6 p.m. (singing). To be considered for Singer/Dancers, you must participate in both the dancing audition on Wednesday and the singing audition on Thursday. Dance auditions will be held in the Auditorium. Singing auditions will take place in the Choir Room. Choreography will be taught at the dance audition, so please wear appropriate dance attire. More information can be found in the Audition Packet available in the Student Activities Office or Choir Room. Sign up for an audition time at bit.ly/bussd26.
BACK-UP SINGERS
AUDITIONS: Thursday, December 11, 2025, 3:30-6 p.m.
These auditions will be held in the Choir Room (1404). All Singer/Dancer and Back-up singer candidates must complete this singing audition. Music excerpts must be obtained in the SAO or Choir Room. Auditions will be in groups; you will sing in front of others auditioning in your time slot. Be prepared to stay for your entire time slot. Memorize and perform your music. These excerpts chosen represent SOME of the solos available in the show. Callbacks will be held at a later date for solos. Sign up for an audition time at bit.ly/bussd26.
COMEDY TROUPE
AUDITIONS: Monday, December 8, 2025 from 3:30-6 p.m.
CALLBACKS: Wednesday, December 10 from 3:30-6 p.m.
Auditions will be held in the Drama/Dance Room (1422). Callbacks will be held in the Student Activities Center. Audition materials and information available in the Google Classroom. 5SHVZAX2.
PLUGGED BANDS
AUDITIONS: Wednesday, January 7, 2026, 3:30-5 p.m.
These auditions will be held in the auditorium. Amps, keyboard, piano, drum set, and mics will be provided. We are looking for performance quality, vocal balance, creativity, and varied musical styles. Use the suggestions on the front of this sheet as a guideline. A room for unplugged tuning will be available to each band before their audition time.
VARIETY ACTS
AUDITIONS: Friday, January 9, 2026, 3:30-10:00 p.m.
These auditions will be held in the auditorium. These include all the true variety acts: humorous or dramatic skits, singing, dancing, videos, magic, juggling, unplugged bands ONLY (see plugged bands above). Piano, audio playback, and mics will be provided for you. Don’t be concerned with fitting into a mold. Use the suggestions on the other side as a guideline. Show your strengths and talents. Sign up for an audition time here: bit.ly/vshow2026.
VARIETY SHOW PRODUCTION STAFF
The following staff members are working as a team on the show and may be present at your auditions:
Dr. Mark Maranto (Producer), Ms. Marla Lampert (Co-Director; Act Director), Mr. Robby Shellard (Co-Director; Act Director), Mr. Rich Winship (Set/Lighting Designer; Technical Director), Mr. Dan Gregerman (Act Director; Vocal Director), Mrs. Stacia Soeldner (S/D Director), Mr. Brian Boron (Pit Band Director; Act Director), Mr. Joe Karlovsky (Act Director; Comedy Troupe Director), Ms. Jenna Repkin (Act Director; Freshman Act Director), Ms. Masha Gasyuchenko (Asst. S/D Director), Ms. Rachel Atlas (Act Director), Ms. Julie Benca (Video Director), Mr. Graham Jackson (Sound Designer/Engineer), Mrs. JoEllen Flener (Costumer).
If you have any questions or ideas you would like to discuss, please feel free to contact Mr. Shellard in Fine Arts (rshellard@glenbrook225.org). Remember that any suggestions or recommendations will not assure you a place in the Variety Show, but could help save you hours of rehearsal time. We look forward to seeing you at auditions! Good luck!
Casting
| Thank you to all that auditioned! There is a mandatory All Cast meeting on Monday, January 12th from 3:30-4:30pm in the GBS Auditorium; ALL act members must be in attendance. |
| Act Title | Group Name |
| A Lovely Night | Tap Act |
| A Natural Woman | Another April |
| Aces High | Crooked Step |
| Angry Birds | GBS Pit |
| BALLS | Jonglörer |
| Bhangra Beatz | Bhangra Beatz |
| Burning Love | The Million Dollar Octet |
| CEC Video | CEC |
| Cry | Titan Poms |
| De La Cru | De La Cru |
| Fly Me to the Moon | Moonwalkers |
| Forest of Lights | Schleicher & Co |
| Fuego en mil Tonos | Latino Heat |
| Hatiraach | Bid chadna |
| Hoocąk wa'į horuxuxu waši | Wanįkpįįwįnga |
| Into You | Look What You Started |
| Kaleidoscope Factory | Nathan Martinez |
| Kaleidoscope of Beats | GBS Drumline |
| Life Could Be A Dream | First Class Brass |
| Little Blue | Chamber Singers |
| Livin la Vida Loca | Los Locos |
| Look. | Prism |
| Mrs Magic | Mrs Magic |
| NO BALLS | AZAP's Fables |
| OPA/OPA | OPA/OPA |
| Paint It Black | Rhythmix It Up |
| Patterns | Teddy Kullman and Ellory Moran |
| Primary | Subject to Change |
| Puppet Act | Marionnettistes |
| Red, Red Robin | Compass |
| Someone in the Crowd | Crowd Control |
| Spectrum | Fusion |
| Spinning Wheel | Scat That |
| Strange | The Lovers |
| The Masterpiece (V-Show Video) | Advanced TV |
| They Don’t Care About Us | The Sovereign Six |
Tickets
Navigation
Production Staff
The following staff members are working as a team on the show and may be present at your auditions.
If you have any questions or ideas you would like to discuss, please feel free to contact Mr. Shellard in Music. Remember that any suggestions or recommendations WILL NOT ASSURE YOU A PLACE in the variety show, but could help save you hours of rehearsal time. We look forward to seeing you at the auditions! Good luck!
Marla Lampert
GBS