Following the cabaret performance, I had the chance to sit down with Toby Huang. Toby performed several pieces and was able to share some insight with me. 

Claire: How was the cabaret performance this year?

Toby: That’s a very broad question, but selecting the song was a learning curve for me because I chose the challenge for myself this year with a little bit of a higher range. I thought that the song that I chose would be a good challenge for me and my voice. I put a lot of work into it and practiced it during Music Option in the afternoons and tried to get it to perfection! It was the best I could do for cabaret. I also performed in a duet!

Claire: It was really good, yeah.

Toby: The duet was a little bit more lighthearted. Well, actually, it was supposed to be a sad topic but the duet turned out to be more lighthearted, and fewer skills were needed.

Claire: Who did you perform this duet with?

Toby: I was able to share the stage with Allan Qi. 

Claire: My final question would be, excluding your songs, what performance was your favorite in the cabaret?

Toby: Definitely Trevor and Kyron’s duet from Rent. 

Claire: What about it made it your favorite?

Toby: It’s so energetic and it- I mean, I strive to be like them, as sassy as they are. I think Trevor and Kyron played their characters very well. 

Claire: They really did, yeah. Well, thank you for giving your time for a short interview!

It is evident that the stage has been a platform not just for talent, but for growth and camaraderie. Cabaret is always a highlight of Berkshire Spring, and this year is no different.