The Joy of Glee: Orland Has a New Show Choir

Frann Carnivele-Sidlow and Jennifer Miller had the same idea.

Both Carnivele-Sidlow, director of the Orland Park Theatre Troupe, and Miller, who heads up the Opening Nights Arts Group and directs choirs at Orland and Century junior highs, are former Carl Sandburg High School students who fondly recall performing in the school's show choir.

Nearly a decade has passed since a swing choir, or glee club, performed in Orland Park. The two thought that was far too long. And so earlier this summer the two put their minds together and the Orland Glee Club was born. On Aug. 25, the Orland Glee Club conducted auditions, which led to the now-chosen cast of 13: four boys and nine girls.

Orland Park Patch spoke with Carnivele-Sidlow and Miller right after the auditions about the joy that comes with performing in a glee club and a set list that includes ABBA, Journey and Lady Gaga.

What did you find after the first auditions? Does the result change your plans at all?

Jennifer Miller: No, we have everything we need. Every range we needed. I was impressed with the boys.  The girls all really did it the right way. None of them were ruining their voices. No screamers in this batch.

Frann Carnivele-Sidlow: There are some really great voices. It's a hard age. The boys just dealt with their voice changes. The girls are now becoming a little more stylistic in their vocal liberties. As singers, and Jenn as a teacher, you hate to hear kids ruin their voices, and I am stickler for diction.

How did this become a reality?

Jennifer: None of the area high schools have swing choirs, so I called Frann, and she said, "Hey! I had that idea a couple years ago, and I needed the right partner."

Frann: Then came the show Glee.

Jennifer: And that's when we decided to call it a glee club. We figured no one would remember what a swing choir is (laughs).  Though my former students do know what it is.

Any rough estimate on how long it's been since a swing choir was in the area?

Jennifer: It's been 10 years since there was a swing choir at Sandburg, and I know because I sponsored the last one.  It ended when I left (Sandburg).

Frann: As long as I can remember there was a swing choir. I have five sisters, all of us went to Sandburg, and all of us were in the swing choir. For whatever reason they decided not to do it anymore. It's such a great venue for kids. I hate to see it not be done.

How is this different from theater or just singing?

Jennifer: The level of joy. No one just walks in and blows everyone way in swing choir or glee club. Even if you are the best singer in the world, you have to learn the routines. Even if you are awesome at those too, you still have a learning curve.

Frann: And that's one of things Jenn told the kids tonight, is that our concept is to teach kids a dance number where if for some reason someone can't make a performance, it's not going to be detrimental to the whole group. Unless it's a solo and then you don't do that song.

Jennifer: We'll have a reservoir of songs to pick from so if person A is missing, then we do some thing where person A is not soloing. Or, we all know each other's music so well where someone can jump in. The choreography is also flexible, so if someone jumps in to fill a solo we can fill in the dancing as well.

Frann: That's why you have auditions. Everyone who auditions has a different strength level. But you can look at everyone as a whole. So here's a movement that's easy for one and maybe not for others, and you can adjust your choreography accordingly for the talent.

What music do you have in mind?

Jennifer: Journey, ABBA and Lady Gaga all in the same show.

Frann: And Tina Turner

Jennifer: Yes we had Proud Mary going.

Frann: We want a mix. Songs by the guys, songs by the girls.