Nobody likes it when the time isn’t right for an encore performance, especially the performers who love sharing the fun on stage. Unfortunately, the team at the St. Joseph Public Schools Foundation and its ENCORE steering committee have decided, like so many other public events across the region, that the time just isn’t right for the planned event. However, they are not cancelling the spectacular showcase — just postponing it. 
Due to shut downs as a result of COVID-19, the wildly popular alumni variety show, ENCORE 2020, which had been scheduled for August 14th and 15th is being postponed.
ENCORE has been a successful fundraising production for the Foundation, featuring St. Joe alumni who return home to share talents that were first displayed in the longest running high school variety show in Michigan, Showtime.
Showtime creator and ENCORE Producer, Dennis Bowen, says, “We never dreamed that we would be faced with this decision. I ask you all to know that this is a POSTPONEMENT rather than a cancellation.” Bowen adds, “There simply wasn’t enough time to prepare acts, create scenery and set production into motion for the quality show our community expects in ENCORE,” and concludes, “We will do it right, but not in 2020.”
Since the first ENCORE production in 2014, alumni from across the U.S. and foreign countries have made a bi-annual return to their hometown to display their talents and raise money for the betterment of the St. Joe schools. Those productions have raised over $300,000 for the Foundation, which serves as the academic booster club for the district by providing grants and funding to enhance the educational excellence of the St. Joseph Public Schools.
Foundation President, Sam Abdelnour, notes, “These difficult and uncertain times have caused a number of events to be postponed or cancelled including Encore. I would like to thank everyone involved including the great alumni performers for their hard work and dedication that makes us all so proud to be part of the rich history of St. Joseph Schools. Your support has been outstanding and we look forward to seeing you in 2021!”
The ENCORE committee has reset the show for August 13th and 14th in 2021, at the high school’s John and Dede Howard Performing Arts Center. Audition tapes submitted for ENCORE 2020 will be held for the 2021 show, and the deadline to submit additional audition tapes will be extended. Bowen reminds grads who want to submit audition tapes to “keep working, because we’re going to make the delayed production better than ever!”
For more information about the St. Joseph Public Schools Foundation and ENCORE, visit online at http://www.sjhsencore.org or contact dennisbowen230@gmail.com.
