BRAD HORN/Nevada Appeal Baile Zuber, 8, from right, Erica Watson, 9, and Raquel Marchesseault, 9, make monkey faces in the Carson Middle School gym during rehearsal for the Young Americans on Friday.
This is the battle scene.
Below the white movie-set scaffolding, a smiling mass of energy builds, shifting quickly from the speed of a Ferris wheel to the speed of a cyclotron, swelling over into hysterics until it threatens to alternately explode and then implode.
Moving faster, rising faster, the rhythm of multiple Caribbean drum beats gradually melt to form one thumping soundtrack for the last mad dash at critical mass. The kids stomp, spin and kick in synch. They beat on blue traffic barrels twirling colorful sticks. The scene is a mix of the TV show "Fame" with something out of "Lord of the Flies." All the unstable elements of youth - all the angst, all the joy, all the wonder become a singularity of expression. A fission of fun.
"It's organized chaos," says Danielle Costella, a 2001 Carson High graduate.
Costella is one of the 44 touring members of the Young Americans, a variety performing troupe that has rolled into town and captured the hearts of some 100 local kids, from Reno to Gardnerville, ages 7-18.
They are rehearsing the opening act, teaching the kids their parts.
Susan Anderson, singer, songwriter and associate producer for the group that includes students ages 15-22 stands by and watches their progress.
"It's always amazing watching how quickly the kids pick things up," she said.
Anderson is blessed with the same disarming smile as the rest of the group.
"The children of our nation and the world need to sing," she said. "One of our main missions is to get music back into our schools."
Since 1993, The Young Americans group has toured schools around the world to show the importance of music to every community and how it helps young people grow and discover unknown reserves of self-esteem.
Ashley Kern, 18, from South Lake Tahoe, is also a locally bred member of the Young Americans. "It's just so much fun," she smiles. She hopes to make a career in the performing arts.
If she does, she'll be in good company. Some alumni of the program, which began in 1962, include actress/comedian Vicki Lawrence and Marc Cherry, former "Golden Girls" writer and creator of the frenetically dysfunctional TV series, "Desperate Housewives."
The three-day workshop includes training in vocal work, dance, ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop and musical theater. And plenty of discarded bottles of drinking water.
After tonight's extravaganza, the group is on to Wyoming. They'll tear down the sets and build them back up, hoping to influence a whole new group of young people.
Somebody shouts, "5! 6! 7! 8!" and the madness starts back up again. Limbo sticks appear. The only question is: Watch or get out of the way?
Anderson laughs. "Just wait until you see the performance!"
Contact reporter Peter Thompson at pthompson@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1215.
IF YOU GO
What: The Young Americans Live directed by Gary Delk
Act One - The Young Americans; Act Two - Local talent
When: Tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Carson Middle School Gym
Tickets: $8 adults, $5 students. Tickets sold at the door a half an hour before show time.
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