Saugus students ready to showcase their talents

SAUGUS – Saugus High School students took to the stage Wednesday for their final day of rehearsals before for tonight?s big talent show, which will feature 11 acts ranging from dance routines, vocalists and a full 1980s hair metal band.Freshman Laura McManus will be singing Breath (2 AM) by Anna Nalick. After rehearsing Wednesday, McManus said she chose that song because she thought it was “powerful.”Click for a photo gallery of a recent rehearsal.?It shows that you make mistakes, but you can change and you don?t have to follow the same path,” said McManus. “I?m a little nervous, but I think it will be good. I never sang in front of these high school kids before ? the more nervous I am the better I sing.”Junior Karli Hancock was decked out in full 1980s hair band garb complete with zebra-striped clothes and big metal band hair for a rendition of “Come on Feel the Noise” by Quiet Riot.?We?re giving this 80s essence and we?ll come out and interact with the audience,” said Hancock. “It?s going to be like a party. We picked the song because it was fun and we all like 80s music, and then I came up with the idea to dress 80s.”Igor Lopes da Silva rehearsed a performance of “Go Insane” by Lindsey Buckingham on acoustic guitar and said he?s been performing the song at open mic nights in the area so he?s not too nervous.?I just like that song,” said da Silva. “I feel really connected to it because it?s about how people around him did all these drugs and he was getting really hurt. I go through the same thing and all my friends go through the same stuff and it upsets me. I think it was a good choice.”Rodrigo Mendoza will be singing “The One That Got Away” by Katy Perry. Mendoza said he?s a big fan of the song and is feeling confident he?ll give a good performance tonight.?I?m ready to go,” said Mendoza. “I hope everything goes well. I?m not really competing for a prize, I just like to perform.”Student Council Faculty Adviser Jane Osgood was leading the rehearsal Wednesday, and said she?s keeping her fingers crossed for a bigger audience than she had for the Mr. Saugus High pageant.?Usually I?m worrying about the weather in March, but I?m actually worrying more because it?s going to be too nice,” said Osgood. “We hope there will be an audience that will come and enjoy it, but the main point is that the performers enjoy it and they usually always do.”The show starts at 6:30 p.m. tonight with tickets costing $5 at lunch and $8 at the door. All funds will go to the Student Council.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].