Northfield High School’s performance of “Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival” was a huge success, as 120 students performed five sold-out shows. Although the phenomenal talent of Northfield’s youth helped to make the performances so successful, the biennial musical would not have been possible without the thousands of hours logged by the show’s numerous volunteers.

The musical’s inaugural performances was made possible by a team of seven people. Now, as the show has grown in stature, so has its volunteer crew, which totaled 25 people this year.
Volunteers helped with all aspects of “Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival”, including set building, costuming, hair and make-up, ushering and concessions. They also provided food for the cast during the long practices of Tech Week.

Local businesses even pitched in to the effort. Culligan Water provided 5-gallon water jugs to keep participants hydrated, show director Tom McKown said.

In addition to helping make “Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival” possible, the volunteers also created an interactive backstage atmosphere that was beneficial to the students. “The performers see the volunteers participating and interact with them,” McKown said. “This year’s cast was a wonderful group. They were very appreciative.”

The presence of volunteers contributed positively to the overall experiences of the performers. “The response from the community was so positive and the shows were so much fun,” McKown said. “Just to be there backstage and having that whole atmosphere was just as valuable as performing if not more so.”

“Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival” volunteers ranged from parents of first-time participants to seasoned veterans who have been with the show since its conception in 1995.

McKown believes that “Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival” and its multitudes of volunteers are so successful merely because it’s fun to work on the show. “You need to have people involved, enjoying what they’re doing,” he said.

The good times carry over from year to year as people continue to volunteer even though their children are no longer participating. “The people who have been with us for awhile … have enjoyed it so much that they keep coming back,” McKown said. “We’re very fortunate.”

Some of the show’s major backstage participants, including the director, musical director, vocal director and choral director are paid by the district as coaches. Nevertheless, their commitment to the show and the number of hours they put into the show exceed the monetary compensation for their participation.

This was the case with Bonnie Liebelt. As a part of her job as Northfield High School’s activities secretary, Liebelt is required to help with the school’s productions. Nevertheless, her involvement with setting up volunteers and selling tickets went above and beyond her job description, according to McKown.

McKown is appreciative of all the people who helped with the show. “I’m so grateful to the people who come on board and amazed at the commitment they have and the job they do,” he said. “[The volunteers] have exceeded all expectations in their commitment to the show.”

Because he was able to delegate tasks to his initiative volunteers, McKown was able to focus his attention on making “Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival” even better. As a result, the show brought in $40,000, which will help make sure the show is just as fantastic the next time.

The ultimate success, however, lies in the hands of the volunteers. “We couldn’t do the show without the volunteers,” McKown said.