February 2024
Welcome to the new D-E Performing Arts Spotlight, featuring exciting news highlights from our students, faculty and staff.
See below for more details on recent programs including our 5th Graders’ most recent visit to Lincoln Center, check out our faculty’s activities on Broadway (and elsewhere) ; and learn about our students’ accomplishments beyond D-E in local, regional, and global programs.
This past fall, the performing arts department produced “She Kills Monsters,” the Stage Band Jazz Brunch, the Middle and Upper Schools Orchestra Concert, the Upper School Handbells and Choral Ensembles Concert, and the Jazz Rock Winter Assemblies. Over 175 students were involved in these shows.
A Lookback: The Fifth Grade Goes to the Opera!
The Fifth Grade continued the decades-old tradition of traveling to the Metropolitan Opera to see The Magic Flute. They visited the orchestra pit for a Q&A with one of the cellists before the performance. Working with lower school music teachers Lisa Dove, Fiona Crawford, and art teacher Christina Maloney, the children start creating their opera this coming month!
“Creating Original Opera” is an arts education, project-based-learning program founded by the Metropolitan Opera Guild. Its objective is for everyday kids to form an opera company, and create and perform their own musical production. The kids themselves are the writers, composers, set designers, carpenters, electricians, costume and make-up designers, public relations directors, performers, and production managers. In taking part in a collaborative and creative process — in making something from nothing together — students are afforded the opportunity to think, work, and achieve both independently and interdependently, and to discover their own personal and collective potential.” – Met Websit
A Lookback: D-E Drama Club Heads to the Broadway Museum!
In December, the Upper School Drama Club organized a field trip to the Museum of Broadway in NYC.
Thanks to interactive displays and performing arts artifacts, everyone had so much fun learning about the history of Broadway and seeing theater come to life in front of them. The museum takes patrons through Broadway’s beginnings to present-day splendor. Students learned about all theater production aspects including the behind-the-scenes tech mechanics that help create the on-stage magic. Overall, the field trip was described by students as a “10/10 trip and a great experience spending time with the D-E theater community.
Upper School Winter Musical | The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee | March 1 and 2
“Winner of the Tony and the Drama Desk Awards for Best Book, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee has charmed audiences across the country with its effortless wit and humor. Featuring a fast-paced, wildly funny and touching book by Rachel Sheinkin and a truly fresh and vibrant score by William Finn, this bee is one unforgettable experience.” MTI
Our talented cast has been in rehearsals since mid-December, the backstage crew has been building sets and designing lights, costumes have been designed, and the band will be having its first run-through of the score in two weeks. There are over 30 students and faculty involved in the show. For tickets, please go online to ShowTix4U.
Check D-E Today regularly for more Performing Arts Updates.
