SPHS Students To Perform Greatest Hits In “Rock ‘N’ Roll Revival XXXV”

This March, weeks of rigorous rehearsals will culminate in the ever-popular annual Severna Park High School (SPHS) musical production of “Rock ‘N’ Roll Revival.” Roughly 100 talented SPHS students comprising the cast, band and tech team have been preparing since January to delight audiences with their renditions of 29 “Greatest Hits,” which is the theme of RNR XXXV.

Karah Parks, director of the show and the drama program at SPHS, shared that this year’s eclectic musical repertoire will open with a Michael Jackson medley. Careful not to give too much more away, she pulled back the curtain just enough to pique interest in the upcoming production.

“We’re playing with merging styles,” said Parks, who is directing the show for her second year. “If a song has been done by multiple artists, we’re merging both versions. We’re picking and choosing the best parts of every song that we want, and just making it work for us.”

She added, “It’s very creative this year, very involved musically, and it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Students will perform nearly 30 songs by artists spanning different genres including Outkast, Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, ABBA, Hootie & the Blowfish, and others.

Each year, “Rock ‘N’ Roll Revival” brings together students in ninth through 12th grades who support one another on and off stage in roles ranging from vocalists to musicians to sound technicians. Parks noted that the production draws students from outside of the drama program, including teens involved in dance and a few who perform locally in bands, among others.

SPHS junior Sabrina Richter is lending her audio skills for a third year in a row, serving as student sound director. “It’s really a delight to be involved,” Richter said. “Everyone in ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll’ gives up a lot of their free time, and we all work really hard to make the show happen. To see it happen each year is just wonderful.”

While the students are the stars of the show, it takes more helping hands to pull off the highly anticipated annual production. Parks explained that “Rock ‘N’ Roll” is successful in part because of parent volunteers who give countless hours of support each year. These behind-the-scenes helpers source costumes, oversee advertising for the show, fundraise, man concessions, chaperone, set up the hospitality table, provide meals during tech week and more.

“It certainly takes a village, and we have a really big village,” Parks said of the volunteers. “We are very fortunate in that way.”

In its 35th year, “Rock ‘N’ Roll Revival” will offer audiences the musical variety they’ve come to know and love over the years, but with a fresh approach. “It’s going to be a really fun show and I hope people come out and enjoy it,” Parks said, leaving the specifics of the show to be a surprise.

“Rock ‘N’ Roll Revival” nearly sells out each year, drawing more than 6,000 attendees over seven days. This year’s production will run for two weekends, March 7-10 and March 14-16. Tickets are $22 for adults and $15 for children and students. To learn more about the show, or to purchase tickets, go to www.sphsdrama.com.