Ark Valley News - Show refuses to grow up

Valley Center High School students sing “Old Time Rock and Roll" during rehearsal March 2 for Hornet Highlights. The show will be March 6 and 7 in the high school auditorium.

Show refuses to grow up
By The News staff
Last Updated: March 12, 2015

Hornet Highlights celebrates 20th with ‘Back to the Future' theme

Hornet Highlights isn't a kid anymore.

But you won't see the Valley Center High School variety show growing up anytime soon.

Hornet Highlights turned 20 years old this month, and students are celebrating by maintaining the youthful exuberance and corniness that have made the event an annual favorite.

Director Mike McCormick said the show, which has a "Back to the Future" theme, will feature emcees from the past making guest appearances.

"We will have at least two and maybe all four original emcees back for this show and 75 to 100 alums have already reserved tickets for the weekend," McCormick said. "This should be a great show and we hope it serves to bring joy, memories and some light-hearted humor to our community."

Hornet Highlights will be 7 p.m. March 6 and 7 in the Valley Center High School auditorium. Tickets to the show are $5 each and are available at the school during the day or at the show.

"When I designed this show 20 years ago, I wanted it to be a show that made memories for the kids and brought great music and laughter for the audience," McCormick said. "I was always a huge fan as a kid of variety show hours — the Carol Burnett show, the Dean Martin show, Donny and Marie, Sonny and Cher — and I wanted a show that offered that type of quality entertainment with music and skits that were relevant to the current time."

The 20th edition follows suit.

It will make light of hot topics in sports, entertainment, politics and even local news.

"We even made some last-minute skit line changes to include some of the latest news spoofs," McCormick said.

Students are involved in planning, writing, costumes and choreography needed for each show. From brainstorming to completion, the show comes together in four to six months.