Rip the Runway returning

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From left, Kassandra Fruin, Tyler Corbett and Brittaney Cerpa model formal wear during Naugatuck High School DECA Chapter’s Rip the Runway fashion show in 2014. –FILE PHOTO
From left, Kassandra Fruin, Tyler Corbett and Brittaney Cerpa model formal wear during Naugatuck High School DECA Chapter’s Rip the Runway fashion show in 2014. –FILE PHOTO

NAUGATUCK — After a year hiatus, the Naugatuck High School DECA Chapter is once again set to rip the runway

DECA’s fifth annual Rip the Runway fashion show, which features students modeling fashions and musical performances, is Saturday at 7 p.m. in the newly-renovated Davis Auditorium.

Saturday’s show will be the first of two Rip the Runway shows DECA will host this school year.

The annual show was canceled last year due to renovations being made in the auditorium as part of the overall $81 million renovate-to-new project at the school. Since the show was cancelled last year, members of the Class of 2015 are participating in Saturday’s show.

“Students were so disappointed when the show had to be cancelled last year. But good things come to those who wait, and having this chance to make it up to last year’s seniors is a perfect ending,” marketing teacher and DECA advisor Tim Reilly said.

The show will be one of the first times the high school gets to show off the newly-renovated auditorium.

“I hope when anyone sees it for the first time they will have a reaction of ‘Wow, is this really NHS?’ It is more like a theater now with incredible sound and lighting features. It is also beautiful, and I hope the community will see it as a show piece,” Naugatuck High Principal Jan Saam said.

The DECA chapter started Rip the Runway in 2010, and the event is DECA’s largest fundraiser. Tickets are $10 at the door. The proceeds will help offset the cost of DECA students attending the DECA Power Conference, which is in Austin, Texas in November.

Over the years, Reilly said, Rip the Runway has become one of the school’s “legacy events.”

“It continues to be successful because the students are fully vested in the production and are able to enjoy the feelings that come from hard work and offering a product that people truly want,” Reilly said.

The show is completely run by students, and is open to any student that wants to participate.

“There is something for everyone who wants to get involved, from walking the runway, to displaying talent, to back stage management, marketing, advertising, the list goes on. Mr. Reilly ensures that no student who wants to be involved gets turned away. It is one of the few events where such inclusion is possible,” Saam said. “Even students not in the show come out as part of the audience to cheer on their peers.”

Naugatuck High DECA President Alexus Coney said the show helps bring people together.

“Every year, Rip the Runway is put together by the hard work of so many students, that’s one of the best parts of the production. Being able to work together and design creative sets and to incorporate awesome model segments and amazing performances really brings so many different students together and exemplifies how big of a role DECA has at Naugy. I’m so excited for this year’s Rip the Runway in our amazing new auditorium,” Coney said.

Senior Class President Heyi Cheng said the show is making its return this year thanks to the hard work everyone has put into it.

“This year’s Rip the Runway will be amazing, but we could not have done it without the hard work of the O&G crew [which is overseeing the renovations], the students and Mr. Reilly. The auditorium is such a beautiful addition to Naugatuck High School,” Cheng said.