By: MJ Johnson
Congratulations to all of our 2025 Independent Open class finalists! Review their productions below in order of Finals placement.
1st - Third Legend (96.900)
Third Legend portrays the back and forth balance of the hope and despair of a relationship in their 2025 program, Don’t Leave Me. With benches that tilt just as easily as human emotion, these performers show us how to balance the emotions of love and loss.
2nd - Phoenix Independent (96.150)
Phoenix Independent holds up the mirror in their 2025 program, Reflections. This intense performance features huge mirrors that the performers use to constantly remind us to reflect on the emotions that make us human.
3rd - La Voute Performance Ensemble (95.250)
Life can be overwhelming and complicated but La Voute Performance Ensemble shows us that Maybe It’s Simple. This beautiful performance is anything but simple though as the performers slowly introduce color into the white themes of this show.
4th - George Mason University Winterguard (93.450)
In their 2025 program George Mason University Winterguard gives a soulful performance of For Mama. Set in front of a family home, these performers share their love of mothers everywhere.
5th - JMU Nuance Open (92.350)
JMU Nuance Open present’s their 2025 program, On the Rocks, featuring a huge glass filled with liquor that a performer eventually dances in. These performers portray the feeling of losing a loved one to alcoholism with their heart wrenching performance.
6th - Gates Chili Independent (91.450)
This retro performance by Gates Chili Independent Open, Just My Type, is totally our type. Highlighting the history and significance of the typewriter, the performers navigate the floor with moving office desks and chairs to various beats created using typewriter keys.
7th - Noir Independent (90.550)
In their 2025 program, The Art of Composition, Noir Independent creates a composition for us. Depicting the struggles of the creative process, this performance highlights the different components that make up the creation of composition.
8th - Revival Winter Guard (89.600)
Revival Winterguard presents their 2025 program Transcendent. This performance features aesthetics and music reminiscent of ancient Egyptian culture to showcase the energy and balance found in ancient architecture.
9th - Allegiance (88.200)
Inspired by the life and legacy of Princess Diana, Allegiance presents their 2025 program, The Diana Effect. Featuring a gorgeous chandelier and various voiceovers from Diana’s interviews, this performance highlights the importance of love, compassion, and understanding.
10th - Edge Independent Open (87.300)
Edge Independent Open invites us to turn on the tv with Plugged In. This performance showcases the emotions and effects of always being plugged into the internet.
11th - Blessed Sacrament (85.950)
Blessed Sacrament shows us Beautiful Things with their 2025 program. To the Benson Boone song of the same name, this performance wows with sketches and graffiti motifs that share their beauty with the audience.
12TH - Emerald (85.400)
Stained by Emerald explores the impact and meaning of being stained. These performers showcase the emotions that come with feeling tainted and how you can still find beauty in imperfections.
12th - Purdue University (85.400)
In their 2025 program, What a Web We Weave, Purdue University weaves a wonderful tale of intrigue and mystery. With striking red accents, this performance ties threads together to create an intense web designed to ensnare the audience.
14th - Collage Winter Guard (83.000)
Collage Winter Guard explores Ray Bradbury’s dystopian world of Fahrenheit 451 in their program, 451. With large bookshelf props and a floor that makes it look as though the books are being consumed by fire, this intense performance reflects on the importance of innovation and creation in society.
15th - Tampa Independent Open (82.400)
Welcome to The Cave with Tampa Independent Open. This performance is accompanied by a haunting and eerie soundtrack that builds in intensity as the performers explore the cave.
