BHEA's Got Talent Showcase Delivers Another Memorable Night

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ — The Kenneth Stiefel Theatre at Governor Livingston High School was packed Wednesday night, and the talent was anything but average.The Berkeley Heights Education Association brought back its annual Got Talent showcase on April 29, filling the auditorium with music, dancing, laughter and a whole lot of school spirit — all in support of the BHEA Scholarship Fund. From student dancers to teacher rock bands, the night delivered something for everyone and proved once again that Berkeley Heights is overflowing with performers who know how to work a stage.Three judges — Talia Dalton, Emily Piazza and Eva Legiec, all Governor Livingston students — kept the energy high and the feedback honest with commentary after each act. Introduced at the top of the show, the trio brought their own GL credentials to the table: from Glissando and the school plays to one judge's self-described role of simply "just here to judge."Keeping the night moving were student emcees Abby Dorrler, Levi Lopez and Grady Miranda — a trio who did far more than hold a microphone. All three are members of GLissando, and Miranda soloed during the a cappella set. Dorrler pulled double duty as well, stepping out from behind the mic stand entirely to front Anna Crusix, the student cover band, as lead singer.The event was organized by the BHEA's Got Talent Event Committee, with support from the GL administrative team, Mr. Voorhees and the GL TV crew, the BH PTO Area Council — which donated the coveted traveling trophy — and the GL custodial staff. The audience was also reminded at the outset that their applause would serve as the final vote: after all performances, crowd volume alone would determine the winner.The Show BeginsThe night opened with the CMS Dance Club, a student-run group of Columbia Middle School girls who performed a jazz dance to "Lullaby" by Sigala — with choreography created entirely by their own eighth graders and club founders. The judges were quick to praise the group's passion and creativity."I wish they had this club when I was at CMS," one judge said. "I love that it's student run and that the students came up with the dance themselves. That takes a lot of talent."Next up was a saxophone and trumpet duet that turned heads — Remy Ng on saxophone and Henry Hao on trumpet, backed by Justin Derman on drums, performing "Soda Pop" from K-pop phenomenon Demon Hunters. The unexpected genre choice landed brilliantly."I've never heard it played like this, and I think I like it more than the original," one judge said.The GL Quintet followed, performing Coldplay's "Viva la Vida" under the direction of orchestra teacher Kate Connolly. The ensemble — Ethan Ng on first violin, Julia Kirsch on second violin, Jaslene Jen, Cara Slotwinski and Lillian Arts on viola, Quinn Ebert on cello and Hannah Weitman on upright bass — drew huge applause."That gave me chills," one judge said. "You guys are just the best of the best."GLissando, GL's a cappella group, then took the stage for a three-song set. The club, newly established and already competing in the International Championship of High School A Cappella (ICHSA), performed a competition set featuring "Saturn" by SZA, soloed by sophomore Zara Mirza; "Little Runaway" by Benson Boone, soloed by Julia Dalton and Abigail Dorrler; and "Stargazing" by Myles Smith, soloed by MC Grady Miranda. "Banger after banger after banger," the lone judge on duty declared. "I've heard you guys sing before — online, on videos — and you get better every time. It's insane."A Rap, a Duet and a DiscoThe night's most unexpected and memorable solo act came from math teacher Ron Anderson, who had apparently spent weeks being convinced by his students to perform. Before launching into his set, he paused to offer heartfelt thanks to the Berkeley Heights Education Association for its work putting on the show each year and for providing scholarship support to students heading into higher education.Dressed for the occasion and backed by The Police's "Every Breath You Take," he delivered an original old-school rap about love, marriage and moving forward — complete with audience participation and enough self-deprecating humor to keep the crowd roaring."Berkeley Heights Eminem right there," one judge declared. "Also, my condolences for your divorce. But you're truly up right now. You're up, King."Mr. Anderson drew laughs and applause in equal measure before signing off with a signature farewell: "The Hammer Dawg, signing off for the final time. Peace out."The energy shifted to something more tender with the arrival of Nick and Robyn O'Sullivan, who performed a four-hand piano arrangement of "Clocks" by Coldplay — an original arrangement crafted by Nick O'Sullivan himself. The duo drew oohs from the crowd when they swapped positions mid-song not once but twice without missing a note."I wanted to cry inside," one judge said. "That was adorable and insane at the same time."The teacher dancers returned with Solid Gold, a disco-era mashup choreographed by Amelia Curran and Lia Castrovinci, with help from Leanne Cunetta. The group — continuing a tradition that took them through the '80s in 2024 and the '90s in 2025 — fully committed to the sequined spirit of the '70s."I don't think I've ever seen Mr. Wroblewski so concentrated," one judge said. "I've seen this man look at Mozart, and he was more concentrated right now."The disco energy gave way to a moment of pure heart when Zainab Khan and Lindsay Mirabella took the stage for a duet of Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water." Their harmonies left the judges speechless."Your voices just melted into each other," one judge said. "I can see why you won last year. You should not be teaching. You should be out there singing."CMS Retro and the Student BandCMS Retro — Peter Sempepos, Deb Scialfa, Luke Wroblewski and Patty Hetherington — switched things up from their classic '60s and '70s repertoire to perform Carole King's "You've Got a Friend" and "Stand By Me," drawing praise for the vocal chemistry between Wroblewski and Hetherington."Your duo is just there — when you guys are lead singing, it's beautiful," one judge said. Close behind in the buzz department was a student-led band — Anna Crusix — fronted by MC-turned-lead-singer Abigail Dorrler, joined by Quinn Ebert on bass, Hannah Weitman, Sonya Mehta and Mateo Vergara. The group tackled songs by The Offspring, My Chemical Romance and Paramore — a set list that left the judges visibly stunned."I will pay money to see you guys do this," one judge said. "I've never seen some of you in this element and it's so cool to see you step out of your shell."Another judge called the performance "immaculate," adding: "You guys are all so respectively talented and so insanely good by yourself and all together. I was blown away."Dorrler herself took a moment mid-show to address her bandmates directly. "We worked so hard on all these songs," she said. "We've all had so much going on, and I'm just so proud of all of you. These are some of my closest friends."Summers Off Takes the TrophyThe night's final competing act — and its ultimate winner — was Summers Off, a cover band made up primarily of teachers that plays local venues around the area. Wednesday's lineup featured Jenna Ellis on vocals, Joe Mellusi on guitar, Scott Jonach on bass, Joe Laurino on keys and Joe Ellis on drums. They were joined by special guests for the evening.The group tore through a set of crowd favorites spanning multiple genres, closing with a moment that had at least one judge laughing out loud when Jonach punctuated a bass line with a well-timed foot stomp."I've seen you guys perform many a time, but every time it's always something new and always so put together," one judge said. "Miss Ellis, you have such an amazing, clear voice — it's insane."After all acts were assembled on stage, the audience served as the final jury — cheering for each group as the winner was determined by crowd volume. Summers Off, the only act eligible to take home the traveling trophy as a staff group, earned the loudest roar of the night."I think we have a winner," the MC declared. "Summers Off."The evening concluded with a tradition that has become a highlight of the show — a full-cast finale number with every performer on stage, backed by Summers Off, sending the audience home on a high note singing “Come Together” by Gary Clark.A Community EffortThe BHEA Got Talent showcase exists not just as a night of entertainment but as a fundraiser for students. Proceeds benefit the BHEA Scholarship Fund, supporting Berkeley Heights students as they head into their next chapter.The night's MC offered a final word of gratitude before the curtain fell. "Thank you to Miss Gillick for her unwavering support and for making this event happen — because we would not have been able to do it without her."The BHEA Got Talent showcase is an annual event. The BHEA Scholarship is awarded to two graduating seniors who exemplify outstanding character and plan to pursue a career in education or a career that focuses on committing time and effort to the well-being of children.Special Thanks goes out to the Berkeley Heights Administrative Team, Berkeley Heights GL Custodial Staff, BHPTO Area Council for donating the trophy, BHEA's Got Talent Event Committee of Jenna Ellis, Cheryl Gillick, Patty Hetherington, and Olivia Mazzaferro.