MICHAEL KELLY The Marietta Times Students at the year-end talent show Friday afternoon in the Marietta High School auditorium light up their cellphones and clap to the rhythm as Sydney Durham does a solo performance of the Amy Winehouse song, "Valerie."

The final hour of the school day Friday at Marietta High School was given over to the annual talent show. More than half a dozen student acts, interspersed with jokes and commentary by emcee Ben Lawson, had hundreds of students clapping, cheering and listening closely at the end of a grueling week.

The show opened with the Putnam Pumpers, doing intricate jump-rope work that took up the full stage, followed by Syndey Durham singing an Amy Winehouse song, “Valerie,” accompanying herself on acoustic guitar. The audience clapped to the rhythm and swayed with lit cellphones.

Other acts included an a cappella quartet led by Tyler Hartline, two solo piano and vocal performers, a group of dancers outlined with glowsticks performing in the dark and a metal guitar soloist.

Torrance Nonnemacher said the Putnam Pumpers all attended Putnam Elementary School and had a jump-rope act there.

MICHAEL KELLY The Marietta Times Acts at the year-end talent show at Marietta High School included glowstick dancers who rocked several tunes for cheering students.

“We haven’t done this in years,” she said, although the act was vivacious and polished. She’ll be attending The Ohio State University in the fall to study marketing and real estate, she said.

“If I can’t get a walk-on for track, I might try out for cheering,” she said. “I’ve done it before, and I miss it.”

The show was organized by English teacher Amy Warren, but she said the students did nearly all the work.

“We started on this about two months ago. Until three or four years ago the junior class would put on the talent show, but now the student council does it,” she said. “It’s a chance to showcase the talents the students have, and I’m really pleased with the quality we got.”

The only dress rehearsal was held Wednesday, she said.

MICHAEL KELLY The Marietta Times An a cappella quartet sings for fellow students at the year-end Marietta High School talent show Friday afternoon.

“The kids really made it come together,” she said, noting emcees Ben Lawson and Camden May, who kept the show moving between acts with jokes and interplay.

“There’s no end to what they can improvise,” she said.

The show came after several consecutive days of state testing for the students.

“It’s been a long week,” principal Chad Rinard said.

A second, longer performance was scheduled for Friday night.

MICHAEL KELLY The Marietta Times Ben Lawson acted as emcee for the hour-long talent show held Friday at the end of the school day in the Marietta High School auditorium. A longer show was scheduled for Friday night.

MICHAEL KELLY The Marietta Times The Putnam Pumpers jump rope demonstration squad entertains students during the annual year-end talent show in the Marietta High School auditorium Friday afternoon.