MONTE VISTA – On March 29, the Church Project was filled with approximately 40 people who welcomed the sweet sounds of rhythmic music and personal perspective monologues as the Adams State Performing Arts Department of Theatre and Music presented an ASU Cabaret.  

The Cabaret featured ASU students – Alastair Cortez, Natalie Wilson, Mollie Hostetter, Sariyah Ridenour, and Kris Fleecs. Music Director Amy Johnson played the piano and Nico Holguin was the director.  

Holguin spoke at the beginning of the event and stated to everyone that he had posed questions to the students about change. He asked the students what the joys and pains are associated with growth – how does one let change commence and what drives that for each one of us. The five student-artist at the show shared their personal perspectives of change through the words and music they performed that night.  

Cortez was the first to take the stage and began by telling his story about how he felt about being a transgender male. He spoke about hating the word girl and chose to share three songs in between his words, that related to his words including the song “Hello, Twelve,” from a “Chorus Line,” “A New Life,” from “Jekyll & Hyde,” and “I am What I Am,” from “La Cage Aux Folles.” 

Cortez spoke about why he wrote his personal monologue with regard to the way he felt about change, “I just thought because all of this was about change, probably the biggest change in my life was about being trans and it’s been a hard change, it hasn’t been easy at all especially now in the world. I just want to put the message out there that it’s ok to be you, no matter what anybody says.” 

Hostetter was the next artist to perform and stated that her change stemmed from wanting to go back in time and change her past. Between her words about change, Hostetter performed “Wondering,” from a “High School Musical,” “Nothing Stops Another Day,” from “Ghost,” and “Journey to the Past,” from “Anastasia.”  

Hostetter stated that her monologue had been written to reflect her life, “I wrote many drafts. I wrote mine in a way to show my personal experiences and to show how being a theatre majors means so much to us. I wanted to be able to share that with everyone.” 

Wilson was the next artist to perform. The performance spoke about her being put in a box, and her knowing what was expected of her. She stated she felt small and fit perfectly in that box, but then later she realized she didn’t like the box or want to be in the box at all.  

Wilson sang “Green Finch and Linnet Bird,” from “Sweeney Todd,” “My Grand Plan,” from “Jekyll & Hyde,” and “I have Confidence,” from “The Sound of Music.” 

Wilson stated, “Growing up I was raised very religious, and I had a set plan for me. It was never very interesting to me; I didn’t want to be like a wife and mother. I wanted to be something different, something of my own. Right now, I don’t have a set view, but I am here right now, and I try to live how I like it.” 

Ridenour was the next and she spoke about how change is never easy in the world, but we must accept change. She spoke about how there are ways in which people can accept changes in a more positive way, to live happier. Ridenour sang “A Change in Me,” from “Beauty and the Beast,” “Family,” from “Dreamgirls,” and “Make Them Hear You,” from “Ragtime.” 

Ridenour stated,” I thought about it and there is so much change going on in the world today. I thought what if I told a story about how we can create change for the better. It’s my way of spreading love and kindness, it’s not easy, but going through these changes makes us grow. We can grow together by working on changes in everything.”  

Fleecs was the final artist of the evening. She spoke about memories in different parts of her life, and about how the seasons change and their relation to life. She stated she remembered being a little girl and watching her mom do the pony dance in her kitchen. She remembered telling her mom that she shouldn’t do that because it was embarrassing but now that she is 40, she dances that way too.  

She sang “Flowers,” from “Hadestown,” “Leave the Light On,” from “The Notebook,” and “Simple Joys,” from “Pippin.”  

Fleecs stated, “I am a 40-year-old full-time student, and I came back to school after raising my daughter. I thought I would talk about a little bit of what I had learned throughout my years. 

Madeleine Ahlborn, owner of the Church Project, stated, “I am a little speechless about tonight. Honestly, I was not anticipating the vocals of these young singers. It was so well done, and I am always happy to hold space for community to gather.”