Photo Courtesy of Sophia Cherry

Nightingale Theater Co-President Sophia Cherry recites a sonnet to English Teacher Katherine Gelbman while giving her a rose.

In honor of Valentine’s Day, the Nightingale Theater Company launched a “Sonnet Serenading” fundraiser before the mid-winter break.  For the price of $5, students could have a member of the Nightingale Theater deliver a goodie bag and perform a sonnet aloud for a person of their choosing.

This is the first time the Nightingale Theater Company has held a fundraiser like this, with club members saying the goal was both to raise money and to show that their club offers more than their annual spring play.

Junior and Nightingale Theater Co-President Sophia Cherry said, “When thinking of events that sound interesting, we sought creative ways to make a Valentine’s Day event theater-esque and fun to partake in. We took inspiration from people ordering acapella groups for their friends and turned it into people ordering sonnets instead.”

There are various upcoming events the company is hoping to fund. Sophia said, “we might be using the funds to fund the spring musical, [Footloose], or our other future endeavors such as our open mic on February 26.”

Many Harrisites purchased a sonnet and goodie bag for their friends, family, and significant others. Junior Raegan Purnama said, “I bought a sonnet serenade for my friends because we didn’t have anything to do this Valentine’s Day, [so] I thought she’d enjoy my letter and the surprise reading. I also wanted her to know that I appreciate her and that she deserves a sweet treat.”

Theater members performed all throughout the school day. “I was completely caught off guard when the band marched into the middle of my class to serenade me. I felt a mix of both excitement and curiosity as I tried to figure out who sent these,”  said junior Bebha Shaha.

While spreading the Valentine’s Day spirit, Sophia said members of the Nightingale Theater Company also wished to also break stereotypes about “theater kids.”

“I wish people would get rid of their negative perceptions of theater kids as a whole,” she said, “ as through this silly event it is shown that theatre can be a path to community and a way to get a good laugh in.”

Freshman Subhana Reza said, “I think Sonnet Serenading brings people together and shows that you can openly appreciate each other through expressions such as these, expressing love through creativity.”