Old school performances

The old wooden stage in the auditorium of Newport Elementary School has been the starting point for many musical careers.

Newport Elementary alumnus Max Newsom, 14, remembers playing Nathan Detroit in the production of “Guys and Dolls” one year.

“I was in the school talent show every year and all the school plays,” Newsom remembers fondly.

The Orange County High School of the Arts eighth-grader, who can play piano, guitar, bass and drums, is returning to Newport Elementary on Friday, along with about 15 other alumni to perform in an evening of music and dancing to benefit the Newport Elementary Foundation.

The first event of its kind at the school, organizer Peter Smith began planning the alumni show as a lark about a week and a half ago.

The event is meant to showcase the musical talents of the many students who have passed through Newport Elementary’s doors, as well as celebrate a new lighting system for the school stage the Newport Elementary Foundation recently purchased. The $15,000, state-of-the-art lighting system replaced a non-working network of antiquated light switches that dated back to the 1920s, said Peter Smith, whose two daughters have attended Newport Elementary.

“We wanted to reach out to alumni of the school, and hopefully this will grow into an annual event,” Smith said.

Brothers Corey Thompson, 17, and William Thompson, 20, have fond memories of eating lunch on the beach and spending recesses playing in the sand at Newport Elementary. Members of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, both brothers are accomplished Native American dancers, and performed once in front of their classmates at Newport Elementary.

“I’ve been dancing since I was a little kid. It would be weird to me not to dance, because I’ve been doing it for so long,” said William Thompson, who will perform a Grass Dance.

The dance, which originated with the Omaha Indians, dates back to when Native American dancers would do a special set of moves to tamp down an area in the grass to perform on.

Corey Thompson will perform a fancy war dance, in which dancers wear elaborate feather bustles.

Newport Elementary alumna Samantha Smith, 16, who also sings and writes her own songs, remembers when her favorite part of school assemblies was singing “Just Read,” by local musician Mark Wood.

“It was by far the best part of those assemblies, and I’m hoping to bring it back,” she said.

Samantha will lead the audience in a round of “Just Read” on Friday.

The song became an anthem of sorts for Newport Elementary students.

“I was really proud going to Newport Elementary, because I could brag to everyone that my school was on the beach. We were the best on the beach,” Samantha said.

If You Go

WHAT: Newport Elementary School Alumni Show

WHERE: 1327 W. Balboa Blvd.

WHEN: Dinner starts 6 p.m. with chili and hot dogs. Musical performances begin 7 p.m.

COST: Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children 12 and younger