Just this week, our very own NT Football team showed up to their ultimate game against Deerfield High School, and the play that they ran was so unexpected that it left the other team startled and uncertain. The parents watching said that they were “brought to tears” by the game-stopping performance. 

Confused by an Instagram post captioned “the last dance” the entire football team showed up to their final game wearing leotards and pointe shoes. To say the rival team was confused would be an understatement. Their coach threw his clipboard down and subsequently was shushed by the enraptured fans, as “the show was starting.” Needless to say, both the Deerfield coach and fans were punching the air  after this unexpected turn of events.

But the beautiful, tear-rendering production of Swan Lake was about to start, so the Deerfield team was forced to quietly sit and watch the rendition. As the players frolicked and pranced over their stage of spray-painted turf, the crowd was captivated, awed even. Here we have some reactions from parents and players who were interviewed after the show:

“I truly never knew my son could move so elegantly!”

“I always thought he was destined for the bench, but I think it’s time to let him shine on stage.”

“I honestly forgot I was sitting on freezing metal stands, I mean really, I thought it was Broadway— or wherever they do ballet!”

While their performance was heartwrenching and incredibly moving, there were some mid-show complications. During the battle of the swans, the local geese were confused by all of the flying feathers and joined in the fray. No geese were harmed in this minor altercation, but the confusion resulted in a short intermission during the climax of the show. However, the problem was artfully resolved with the season-long bench players finally getting their time to shine in the spotlight of the stadium lights. The replacements were shielded from the crowd by the backup dancers while the backup-backup dancers quickly got to priming the new swans. With a speedy change, the tutus were re-puffed and the athletes refeathered. As the new leads prepared to take the stage, the backup-backup-backup dancers adjusted their tiaras and dapped up each bench player for good luck. The show was gracefully recovered, and the rest of the climax and falling action went on without a hitch. 

Fortunately, due to lack of preparation, Deerfield was forced to forfeit, and New Trier was given the victory, with an astounding lead of one Tony nomination to none. The victory ended their otherwise regular season with a glorious bang!