By Natalie Swanson ’13, Arts & Entertainment Editor

In the dead of winter when the days are short, dark, and cold, Newark Academy’s annual Coffee House provides a break with a night full of fun, lively entertainment. The black box lights up with the diverse performances of the Newark Academy student body. The atmosphere is that of a small corner Coffee Shop, where students can sit back and relax to enjoy the performances of their peers.

Every year, there are always two emcees: last year Molly Alter ’12 and Grace McNeely ’12; this year Joe DeNoon ’13 and Chris Paolini ’13 ran the show. Joe performed a stand-up comedy routine last year at Coffee House. He commented that the audience was very responsive, saying, “The audience has a lot to do with the

success of a performance.” He had an incredibly positive experience performing, saying, “It was a blast. Performing stand up is one if the scariest but most rewarding things in the world to do. When you get your first laugh, the nerves go away, and you begin to have fun.” As an emcee this year, Joe hoped that the audience would be just as receptive as last year. His role, to “help set up people’s performances in a positive way,” was fulfilled as he and Chris performed comical routines in between performances that gave the show life and kept the audience engaged.

Many performances feature a marriage between two or more talents, like one student singing while a  friend accompanies on the piano. Kasey Iverson and Tucker Iverson, a brother and sister duo, performed “Valerie” with Tucker on guitar and Kasey on vocals last year, which was definitely a favorite among the many of the attendees. This year Kasey returned with a performance of Cher Lloyd’s “I Want You Back” alongside Sydney Mann ’14. “Coffee House is always a really positive experience. I was definitely surprised how many students performed this year,” said Kasey.

Coffee House is accessible to anyone- all students can sign up to perform. Greg Ruda, ’13, a member of the band Panic Switch, has performed at Coffee House since he came to Newark Academy in seventh grade. He explained that it’s a great setting for students to show off their hobbies that otherwise wouldn’t be shared with the school community. “It is cool to play in front of my friends, especially since a lot of times people don’t get a chance to come to my gigs.” Last year, the band, which consists of seniors Alex Liao, Dillon Denehy, and Sam Wohlforth, performed renditions of songs like Pursuit of Happiness and Purple Haze. The audience at Coffee House is always enthusiastic and engaged. “I threw my hat off into the crowd and a girl caught it!” Greg said.

Newark Academy students who aren’t performing at the event often mark their calendars to attend the night. Christian Pinto ’13, has attended Coffee House many times throughout his high school career. “I really enjoy Coffee House because it is a wonderful night with all different types of performances in an intimate setting.” Matt Press ’14, commented, “I always look forward to Coffee House. It’s a place where I can hang out with my friends and listen to good music.”

Coffee House was a major success this year. The Newark Academy community looks forward to next year’s show, eager for what is to come from such a talented array of students. For those who missed the night, many of the performances can be found on YouTube.