What was Mr. Central?
For as long as teachers like Mr. Hennelly have been here, West Morris Central’s student council hosted an event that would fill our auditorium entirely known as “Mr. Central.” In this showcase, male students volunteered to be contestants in the show. The show was broken into five segments: opening dance number, interview questions, swimsuit portion, talent portion, and final dance (Mr. Central contestants would have an escort to dance with on stage). Then, the judges picked the top three contestants and briefly interviewed them. Then, the judges crowned the next Mr. Central. The last true Mr. Central was hosted before the Covid lockdown, and it has not been brought back to its full extent since.
What did Mr. Central become after covid?
During 2021 students had just gotten back from Covid and there were still hybrid learning classes with cohorts. Due to the circumstances, Mr. Central was performed outside on the football field and only seniors were permitted to attend. This was also done on the same day as senior field day which was not typical. What was once an event that the entire school attended as well as a ticket sell-out had gone to a small event purely for seniors with less attendance due to Covid. “When we tried to bring it back the next year it just didn’t have the same interests and excitement because it had to be so small, limited, outside, and only for seniors.” said Ms. Harrington, the senior advisor at the time. In 2022 Mr. Central was attempted another time but with new rules and a rebranding. Restrictions were added to the skit portions of the event which had turned many students away. When asked about the rebranding Ms. Harrington said, “Mr. Central was opening it up to seniors of any gender, which I was totally on board with. They branded it as iCentral.”
Will there ever be another Mr. Central?
Unfortunately due to a lack of interest in the previous years, the student council was unable to get a Mr. Central or an iCentral up and going again. The current student council is very eager to bring the long awaited return of Mr. Central but it’s definitely not an easy task. “Student council wants to be remembered as the senior class who was able to bring it back” said Donovan Velletto, Student council president. At the moment, bringing back Mr. Central is all up to whether or not the actual students of Central are interested and want to participate.
If anyone is interested in participating this year for Mr. Central, please email [email protected] telling him you or your friends would be interested in participating.
