By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
Paul Erdman, 19, a Southwestern Michigan College freshman from Osceola, Ind., won the $100 first prize Saturday night in the second annual SMC Drama Club Variety Show.
Erdman, a 2004 Penn High School graduate who is majoring in music performance at SMC, performed a John Mayer song as the 13th and final act, then played blues guitar while scores were being tabulated.
At Penn he participated in the choral program, jazz band and drama.
He has performed vocally his whole life and for the past four years has devoted his time to playing and writing music on guitar and has traveled across the country with various bands and ensembles. This summer he looks forward to performing at Cedar Point. He has also been trying his hand at building his own guitars.
Second place, and $75, went to Berrien Springs sisters Jessica, 22, and Emily, 18, McFadden, who combined country comedy and guitar accompaniment to "I'll Fly Away."
Third place, and $50, was won by their mother, Kathie, and their precocious 7-year-old sister, Leah, belting out "Babyface."
The second grader has been performing with her family since age 2.
Leah loves playing Barbies, singing Broadway songs and visiting SMC with Jessica, who is an SMC sophomore and played Pooh in the Children's Theatre production of "Winnie the Pooh: A Christmas Tail."
There are five girls in all and two boys, all home-schooled. Jessica is majoring in arts and science at SMC. Emily is a high school senior who plans to attend SMC this fall. Emily studies voice, enjoys folk music and taught herself to play guitar.
Kathie, who has two grandchildren, is an active youth leader in her church and enjoys directing the group in various musical and dramatic performances. With five children at home, in her spare time Kathie says she walks six miles a day "to avoid insanity."
SMC instructors Scott Topping and Tim Smith hosted the variety show, which also benefited Animal Service League.
The show opened with the unjudged "Book Report" by Dowagiac Union High School Drama Club from its recent musical "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown." It features Aislinn Frantz as Snoopy, Keera Morton as Sally Brown, Jessica Bailey-Blank as Lucy Van Pelt, Steve Long as Charlie Brown, Bill Davis as Schroeder and Jordan Eby as Linus Van Pelt, accompanied by Kathy Briggs.
Acts also included:
SMC sophomore Nora Hipshear, with Chris Chapman, Paul Erdman and Mick Witt, "Sunrise" by Norah Jones.
Kelsey Schoff, 15, a Niles High School sophomore, Timothy Bolton, 18, a Niles High School senior, and special guest Vicki Zimmerman, "Press Conference Rag" from the musical "Chicago."
Timmisha Walker, two poems, "Why Hate?" and "Untitled." The 18-year-old SMC sophomore attended Cassopolis Ross Beatty High School.
Andy Rajzer, "I Still Love You," by Glen Phillips. The 21-year-old Decatur resident accompanied himself on piano. He's studying graphic arts, but wants to be a professional piano man.
Dancer Janelle Clark, "I, Palindrome, I" to "Mouths Cradle" by Bjork.
Lisa Chilton, accompanied by Autumn Mitchell, sang "Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill Withers.
SMC sophomore music major Chris Chapman, a bass medley.
Holly Hanchon, 17, of Constantine, accompanied by JR Robinson, 16, of Constantine, sang Jewel's "You Were Meant for Me."
Aislinn Frantz and Jessica Bailey-Blank, accompanied by Kathy Briggs, performed "We Share Everything" from the musical "Side Show."
Danielle Lucas, Jack Crouse and John Eby judged the show.