PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — To combat the long and cold late winter months, hundreds of folks gathered at the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Wieden Auditorium on Thursday for the campus’s first annual variety show.
Throughout the evening, nine acts featuring UMPI students, faculty and community members took to the stage and impressed their audience with talents ranging from singing to slam poetry to martial arts and dancing.
Violet Washburn, coordinator of campus engagement, noted that there had been much hype about the variety show in the weeks leading up to the event. She and UMPI staff members hope to make the show an annual event that takes the winter blues out of anyone who attends.
“The winter semester is a long one and so we wanted to find something to keep people engaged and having fun. We have a lot of talent on campus and locally,” Washburn said. “We’re looking forward to showcasing everyone here tonight.”
The line-up featured many singers and musicians, including the folk duo “Day Job” — formed by UMPI adjunct art instructor Carol Ayoob and assistant professor of biology Larry Feinstein, who performed original songs. Ericka Weatherbee, administrative assistant for student support services, her husband Jon Weatherbee, and family friend Cody Blair performed “Black Smoke Rising” by Greta Van Fleet.
Bethany Lord, UMPI admissions councilor, performs “Cups” by Anna Kendrick and plays the cups during UMPI’s first annual variety show Thursday evening. Lord won Most Creative Act for her performance. (Melissa Lizotte)
UMPI students Kaleb Pennell, Sheridan Blackstone; Gracie Griffeth and Emma Huot; and UMPI graduate Ashley Morton, provided entertainment through martial arts and dance, a contortionist act and music performances, respectively.
During breaks in between performers, the audience members laughed out loud at jokes from the night’s emcee, Justin Rupple. Rupple is a voice-over actor and stand-up comedian based out of Los Angeles. He entertained the Aroostook County crowd with comedic bits about his celebrity voice impersonations and experiences driving on the Maine highway for the first time.
“In L.A., we have traffic signs that tell you where to go. I get on the Maine highway and the only sign I see is one that says, ‘There’s a moose coming,’” Rupple said. “And what’s ‘black ice?’ It should be called ‘invisible ice’ because I can’t see it.”
At the end of the night, Bethany Lord, UMPI admissions counselor, won Most Creative Act for singing “Cups” by Anna Kendrick and playing the cups. UMPI student Jahvion “Jah” Lockridge received the Audience Choice award for his slam poetry performance, which reflected themes of white supremacy and police brutality in the African American community.
UMPI history major Evan Zarkadas was named Best Overall Act for his lively performance of two traditional songs on the lyra, the Greek version of the violin.
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- UMPI history major Evan Zarkadas performs the Greek lyra, or violin, during a variety show held on campus on Thursday. Zarkadas won Best Overall Act for his performance. (Melissa Lizotte)
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- UMPI student Jahvion “Jah” Lockridge performs slam poetry during UMPI’s first annual variety show Thursday evening. Lockridge won the Audience Choice Award for his performance. (Melissa Lizotte)
