Watertown Recreation
Children perform during the Watertown Recreation Department’s “The Show Must Go On” program.
More than 50 children from Watertown put on quite a performance during “The Show Must Go On,” a program run by the Watertown Recreation Department, and they remembered longtime Recreation and Lowell School employee Bob Galante.
Saturday’s show featured songs from the 90s, said Stacy Vachon, the director, who has been putting on similar shows with the children of Watertown since she was a teenager.
“We sampled techno, grunge, popular and alternative music,” Vachon said. “The kids were either backed by the teacher band or sang along with karaoke tracks.”
The first two songs were dedicated to Bob Galante, who died recently. He ran the Pequossette Summer Program, and ran the Lowell School after school program.
Vachon has been putting on shows like this for so long, she is not sure when she first started working with Recreation Department. She first began with the Pequossette Summer Program as the music specialists, and the worked with Kids In Common After School Program as the assistant director.
The most recent show featured 50-60 children ages 5-14, plus there were some cameos from children, teens and young adults who have participated in previous shows.
“This year Jeremy Breen, a high school senior who will be attending Stonehill College this fall, made an appearance in his 19th consecutive show!” Vachon said.
Vachon’s brother, Adam, a fellow Recreation and WPS employee, put together the live music arrangements, and the children got live backup from the Lowell School teacher band, The Lowell Brigade.
Watertown Recreation
Director Stacy Vachon tries to give solos to as many children who want one.
The kids only had an hour together each week for eight weeks to prepare for the show.
“Most of the rehearsing has to be done on their own time and we do our best to pull it together in one full dress rehearsal,” Vachon said. “We are so lucky to have a community of such supportive teachers and parents who go above and beyond to support and participate.”
Vachon said she wants to put the spotlight on the children and make sure they have a blast on stage.
“I try to make sure that any child who requests a solo, gets one, regardless of their skill – it is very important for children to try out different challenges and feel comfortable putting themselves out there,” Vachon Our number one priority and focus is to have fun!”
Some videos from the performance were posted on the Watertown Recreation Department’s Facebook Page. Click here to see them.