Maine West High to present annual talent show Oct. 27-28

Maine West High School is presenting its annual talent show, "West's Got Talent," at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 27-28, in the school auditorium, 1755 S. Wolf Road, in Des Plaines.

The show features more than 25 acts, including magic, live bands, cultural dances and vocal performances.

School groups like the Choraliers and Orchestra Pit will be featured, along with cultural performances from Raíces, a Latin American affinity group, and Desi Dhamaka, an Indian dance group.

One of the many goals for the show is to showcase how Maine West is an inclusive, diverse community with a multitude of cultures and traditions.

"I just love that I'm connecting to my culture," said Rohan Doma, a 12th-grader in Desi Dhamaka. "My identity is strengthened because I'm able to connect with other students from the same background as me. I also love our team bonding."

In the history of West's talent show, this year marks one of the largest shows. Students auditioned with a concept rather than a fully prepared performance, which event co-director and drama teacher David Harmon credits for the increase in performances.

"Auditions can be intimidating for students who aren't used to performing on stage," Harmon said. "I think changing the audition process helped get more students involved."

Tickets are $7 for students and $12 for adults and can be purchased ahead of time at http://bit.ly/MWBoxOffice.

Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door.