Picayune Memorial High School and Pearl River Central High School will present a joint show choir concert, 6 p.m., Thursday, May 14 at the Picayune School District Auditorium. Both schools have joined forces to present an evening of entertainment which includes dancing choreographed by Brett Anthony Barnes. The program will also consist of the separate high school and junior high groups from each school performing their individual programs — for a full evening of song and dance.

PRCHS’ “New Attitude,” under the direction of Debbie Wolfe and PMHS’ “Tidal Rave,” under the direction of Sherri Lawley, have worked together over the last couple of months to learn a couple of songs to perform as a whole. “It has been an awesome sight to see these two rival schools combined into one group to work hard for a common goal,” said Lawley.

PRCHS established a show choir in 2005. Each year the program continues to grow. New Attitude has competed for two of the three years at South Jones, North Forrest, Petal, West Jones, Best of the South, and PRCC Show Choir Invitationals. This year’s group consists of 13 girls and 10 guys. New Attitude’s show is rock and roll music from the 70s, 80s and 90s.

Tidal Rave has competed this year at West Jones, Purvis and Hattiesburg Show Choir Invitationals. Lawley hopes that this year is just the beginning of a successful future for Tidal Rave. The auditioned group of dedicated singers/dancers have worked extremely hard this year to get this program back on track. Auditions for next year’s group will be held on May 15 for Junior Tidal Rave and May 16 for High School Tidal Rave.

Students from both groups have spent many hours after school and weekends learning music and dances for their competition show and the spring show. Many of these students are awaiting results from auditions at Pearl River Community College for River Road Show Choir as well as The Singers Concert Choir.

Lawley and Wolfe both said they have dreamed of a combined show night since the beginning of the school year. After much hard work that dream will become a reality on Thursday night.

Come out and support fine arts programs within the schools and encourage the students. Admission is $8 and children under the age of 7 get in free.