Blast 30 brings WCHS students to center stage
By Sophie Liss, Editor-in-Chief
April 1, 2019
Outstanding solo performances, catchy songs, sparkling lights and talented dancers. Blast 30: Blast From the Past included all of these aspects and more, and it definitely proved to be a memorable show for the audience. Similar to years past, this year’s Blast included a theme, which was Blast from...
WCHS celebrates 30 years of student tradition
By Laura Sneller, Arts Editor
March 6, 2019
Every year, the WCHS community comes together to experience a voyage through time through song. Blast has been a WCHS tradition that consists of a series of popular musical numbers from throughout time corresponding to a theme that changes every year. This year the theme is Blast From the Past in honor...
Junior Releases Original EP
By Sarah O'Brien and Thomas Atkinson, Arts Editor and News Editor
September 22, 2016
On Sept. 15, junior Sam Nasar released his first Extended Preview (EP), “Self Signed.” Ever since Nasar’s mother introduced him to musical theater, he has always had a passion for the arts. Nasar has been in Showstoppers and Blast for the past three years as well as in the school musical for...
CHS Alumni Continue in their Arts Exploration
By Sarah O’Brien, Arts Editor
April 29, 2016
All students take some form of art class at CHS, yet most do not continue once they graduate. The Observer has contacted a few recent graduates who have continued their passions in art after their life at CHS. Adam Settlage Adam Settlage graduated in 2014 and was a member of the show cho...
Members of Blast Perform at Rio
By Arielle Gordon and Thomas Atkinson
March 24, 2015
Student performers in Blast 26: Opposition, performed at Rio shopping center in Gaithersburg March 14 to advertise their upcoming shows. “We thought of presenting some songs somewhere,” parent volunteer Veronica Espinoza said. “We mentioned Montgomery Mall and then I remembered that Jazz Ambassadors...
‘Blast’ returns for its 26th year with ‘Opposition’
By Sai Sreenivasan, Staff Writer
March 23, 2015
It’s opening night and the crowd is buzzing. But when the lights hit the stage, silence fills the air. Blast begins. Blast has been a unique CHS production for 26 years and returns to the stage with this year’s production of Blast: Opposition. Matthew Albright, CHS choral director and Blast director...
Students question if curtain will rise on future shows
By Emily Birnbaum, Editor-in-Chief
September 25, 2013
Following the departures of technical director Scott Selman and choral director Carlos Barillo last year and theater director Lynda Scionti in mid-September, students are left wondering: What will become of the CHS theater department? Will Blast and the fall play happen under new direction? Blast 25 has been confirmed. Although Barillo, Blast’s director of 16 years, left CHS last year to...
‘Blast’ returns to the past with ‘American Bandstand’
By Emily Birnbaum, Features Editor
December 3, 2012
What we now know as Blast, CHS’s epic annual musical review, was originally designed to be a blast from the past—a show comprised of and dedicated to music from previous decades. Although in recent years it has veered off this path with long sets of contemporary music, it is returning to its roots t...
Blast takes the stage
By Stacey Stein, By Online Breaking News Editor
December 9, 2011
The 23rd Blast musical review debuted this weekend with the theme Believe and featured a range of artists from Lady Gaga to Smash Mouth. Although Blast is usually in April, this year it occurred in December. However, the Dec. 3 show had a minor setback when a fire alarm went off during the song ...
Blast is back: ‘Rock ‘N’ Broadway’ is a hit
By Carly Rotter
Online Breaking News Editor
April 18, 2010
They have given us “Carpe Noche,” then brought us “Instant Replay,” and now the Blast crew is back again with this year’s production of “Rock ‘N’ Broadway.” The nearly three-hour show offers audiences a wide variety of music from two distinct genres, ensuring there is something in...