The 13th Annual Women's Soiree

Every season I've been here, I've been involved in the Women's Soiree. This is an event put on by the community that showcases the talents of the women in McMurdo. It's only women performers allowed, though the volunteers are both men and women to help put the performance on. In the past three years I've stepped up in to a lead board member role in helping to organize this event and though I'm a crazy person running around for about 4 weeks before this event, it's all worth it in the end. This year was no exception to that- and it's amazing how each year we out-do the past years!

This is the 13th year that this event has occurred, and the theme this year was A Night With Old Hollywood. There are several committees involved in this event- decorations (all the backdrop, and pre-event decorations), publicity (advertising for the event via signs, posters, TV scrolls, announcements), prize collection (we give away prizes in a raffle drawing at the event), donation collections (we collect donations for a charity in Christchurch New Zealand each year), pre-event social (there is wine and food provided in the lobby before the event for attendees to go to), set-up crews (they turn the galley in to the theatre- all the set-up and take-down of the stage and chairs and tables and lights), sound and light techs (they deal with all the sound and lights), videographers (this video clip wouldn't happen without their efforts- they actually recorded the entire event and made a DVD which we sell and then donate the proceeds from), stage crew (they deal with all the needs of the performers), the performers (which are always amazing!!), and all the miscellaneous things that have to get taken care of someone always steps up to fill the role as well.

The event is held in support of a charity in New Zealand, and this year we selected Women's Refuge. We choose a different charity every year, and they are always so excited to be the recipients of the proceeds from this event.
http://www.womensrefuge.org.nz/
“Liberating Women, Children, families and whanau from family
violence through the provision of quality services and social commentary.”

So last year, the Shuttles girls and I did the dance from Napoleon Dynamite which was hilarious, and we had to come up with something to top that this year. We've been told that we have succeeded! The song and dance performance you see in this clip is "Don't Tell Mama" from Cabaret. We all choreographed it and sang- and we had a great time!! The audience was great too- I don't think I'd have the nerve to get up and do this anywhere else. :) Thanks to everyone who made this night happen!!!