Everyone is awaiting Friday night, when costumes are on, songs are cut, places are set, and the anticipation is high. But what does it take to get to that moment? While students are at the field house performing, parents miss a lot of the blood, sweat, and tears that lead up to show night.
The 2026 Linsly Extravaganza, themed Join the Party!, takes place on February 27th at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. The entire school is involved in some way, whether in a dance, band, cheer, comedy team, stage crew, or as an usher. Extravaganza is one of the few events where everyone participates. It’s something that brings the school together and turns months of preparation into one night on stage.
Preparation for Extravaganza starts much earlier than most people realize, with planning beginning months before rehearsals even start.
“The extrav team starts meeting in October, but I start planning pretty much as soon as extrav is over,” says Erin Bond. “My mind is already racing; my mind is already coming up with ideas. Costumes have to be ordered before Christmas, which I don’t think a lot of people realize, which is why people can’t switch acts and things like that.”
With the theme Join the Party!, this year’s show allows for a wide variety of performances and styles while keeping the energy high throughout the night. Choreography rehearsals begin around the middle of January, with the opener starting earlier than the other numbers. The band gets its music right after winter break and gets straight to work, around the same time as students begin to balance rehearsals with their regular schedules.
As Friday night approaches, the anticipation continues to build. When the lights go up and the show begins, the audience will see the final result of weeks of preparation that happen long before show night.
By Chloe Patt
