What do improvised tap dancing, violin playing while dancing and a capella have in common? They were all acts in the annual Revisions Talent Show, and each contributed to an utterly entertaining night.
Hosted by the Brookline Literacy Partnership and Friends of the Performing Arts, the Revisions Student Talent Show returned to the high school on Dec. 13, 2025, at the Tappan Theater. A variety of unique performances graced the stage and lit up the night, ranging from passionate ballads to confident dances, filling the theater with joy and engagement.
As the lights dimmed, the high school’s improv group, Needs Improvment, took the stage to emcee. Starting with a short intro, they welcomed the first performers of the night: Note-A-Fy.
The members donned matching T-shirts and reigned in the holiday spirit with their first song, “White Winter Hymnal” by Pentatonix. The group incorporated body percussion into the piece—a beautiful start to the show.
Their later songs, especially their rendition of “October Sky” by Yebba, were quite impressive and sounded almost hypnotic. Another standout of the night was “Not Strong Enough” by Boygenius, where, even as members beatboxed with liveliness, the somber lyrics provided a chilling contrast. The diversity demonstrated in their song choices was impressive for a group of their caliber to perform.
Notable performances included Calista Garms and Anna Roz’s dramatic rendition of “The Phantom of the Opera” from the musical of the same name, where they both passionately sang the difficult piece. Next, Misha Betts’ dance to “JENNIE” and Doechii’s confident pop song “ExtraL” hyped up the audience as she successfully glided and strutted across the stage.
For a brief intermission, Needs Improvment returned to the stage for a game of “Ding,” where the members performed a scene until an outside member yelled “Ding!”, and the members had to alter their last line. An audience suggestion prompted them to act out a scene of two people in the grey area between being friends and dating, and hilarity ensued. The audience guffawed as the emcees construed a crazy and chaotic interaction from scratch.
To continue the excitement of the improv sketch, senior Lil Kuklewicz stepped into their improvised tap dancing routine. A marvelous display of talent, every click and clack of their shoes fit snugly into their performance’s upbeat backing track, “The Sidewinder” by Lee Morgan. Even after five minutes, Kuklewicz did not miss a step and managed to keep everyone entertained and watching eagerly.
A few acts later, Perfect Pitch, the second a capella group of the night, emerged from the wings in costumes reminiscent of the classic “Pitch Perfect” series. The group arranged songs from the series, delivering their interpretation of “Cheap Thrills” by Sia in the style that appeared in the movie. The dramatic shouts of “I love cheap thrills!” by some members added liveliness and charm to the performance, and the iconic theme they selected glued the three performances together; it was a brilliant tribute to the beloved movies.
Sophomore Erik He ended the night in stunning fashion when he let loose a vivid and playful violin performance of “Rasputin” by Boney M., which sparked gasps from all around the theater. As the verse transitioned into the chorus, he began to squat dance, an unexpected twist to the final act. A great act to finish the night, He united the audience with cheers and applause.
Overall, the Revisions Student Talent Show was successful in provoking the audience and providing entertainment. Despite the variety of performances over the night, every act successfully delivered something unique and worth watching. If you missed the chance to be there, be sure to check it out next year. As proven by the many remarkable performances of the night, you never really know what might happen.
