For the Chesak Elementary School and Martin Elementary School students, their talents in the 2012 Variety Show on Feb. 4 were far greater than their heights.

The show, which has occurred annually in Huntley High School’s Performing Arts Center for at least ten years, is run by the Chesak/Martin Parent-Teacher Association. Julie Filipek is the chairman of the Variety Show Committee.

“It used to be a huge production, but it’s gone down lately,” said Filipek.

Nate Parker is the technical director for Huntley’s Performing Arts Center. His job year-round includes controlling the lights, audio, schedules, and sets for all of the productions. For the Chesak Variety Show, his main tasks were maintaining the audio and video clips.

All students that audition are given a chance to participate in some way, as long as their material is appropriate. The performers must be student or staff from Chesak and Martin Elementary School, and the performance must be three minutes or less.

“We get mostly singing and dancing groups,” said Jackie Carnana, who helps run the show. “We’re trying to get more variety. We encourage the kids to do something different.”

Though there was a great deal of singing and dancing groups, the show also included more unique performances, such as a reenactment of the song “Singin’ in the Rain” and a student doing karate.

“We even get teachers sometimes,” said Carnana. “That’s always fun.”

One of the acts, titled “Small, Medium, and Large,” featured sisters Belle, Gabby, and Noelle DeRennaux. They performed a song together.

“I like seeing everybody out there when I’m singing,” said Noelle, the eldest sister. Belle added that she likes talking into the microphone.

Their mother, Michelle DeRennaux, appreciates the hard work people put into the show.

“[I like that] they have courage to go up there [on stage]. The kids get so excited,” said DeRennaux. “I think that the more opportunities you give kids to express themselves, the more they can build up their inner strength.”