The show must go on: Talent show celebrates 16 years at ISD

Jeff Broddle | Cadillac News Teacher Kathy Bloomfield (center) leads members of her class, including John Braden (left) and Trisha Young (right), in their parts for the Ò12 Dogs of ChristmasÓ in rehearsal. They will be holding two performances beginning today and again on Friday.

CADILLAC — One talent show is all about having fun.

For 16 years, special education students at the Wexford-Missaukee Intermediate School District have been entertaining staff, fellow students, parents and loved ones with various skits and miniature plays. The motto for staff and students is, “We Work Hard at Having Fun!”

On Wednesday, the cast had a dress rehearsal in front of a small audience for the annual talent show before two performances today and Friday.

Although the show is one of the events students and staff look forward to every year, this year’s show marks the final one for one teacher.

For 30 1/2 years, Kathy Bloomfield has been a teacher and for the past 16 years she has been a part of the show. After this year she will be retiring and the annual talent show she helped to create is somewhat bittersweet for her.

“Me and another teacher came up with the idea 16 years ago. The students love it. It builds their confidence and self-esteem,” Bloomfield said. “During the first show they are a little star-stuck but during the second and third shows they have more fun.”

The show consists of various skits done to songs as well as story-driven acts. This year the students and staff did a reenactment of Snow White’s story as well as acted out scenes from “The Blues Brothers.” The process starts in January and progressively gets more and more involved. To help get the students excited and motivated during the show, Bloomfield said the audience is encouraged to clap, cheer and give support.

“We start in January and by the time we are a couple weeks away we practice every day,” Bloomfield said. “I get enjoyment out of the kids and watching the kids. The audience also has a lot to do with it.”

Although Bloomfield is retiring after this year, she believes that the show will be left in good hands. Those hands belong to teacher Leslie Thompson.

“There are people who are nay-sayers and people who are yea-sayers. She pretty much is a yea-sayer,” she said.

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