In November, our Middle (MS) and Upper School (US) cast and crew wowed our community with their talents in the MS musical and US play!
Since September, these students have dedicated countless hours to memorizing scripts, exploring characters, and polishing their vocals and choreography — all in preparation for their fall shows. Behind the scenes, the build, costume and run crew worked together to bring the show to life by constructing sets, practicing scene transitions and carefully designing props and costumes to capture the characters’ personalities. Student participation in the crew is integral to our drama productions and their talents shone once again in these two performances with immersive sets, seamless scene transitions and flawless lighting.
Annie Jr.
Chapin’s MS students blew away audiences with a heartfelt and memorable production of Annie Jr., an adapted version of the beloved musical Annie, set in New York City during the 1930s. The show follows the courageous young Annie, who, with courage and the support of her friends, sets out to find her birth parents after being left as a young child at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage. Her journey, filled with twists and turns, leads her to discover a new home and chosen family.
When the students hit the stage for their invited dress rehearsal on Wednesday, November 12, the room was vibrating with excitement from members of the professional community, who came to experience the show prior to opening night. The students first full run-through in front of a live audience brought energy and confidence to the cast and crew, setting the tone for the exceptional shows that followed.
On Thursday, November 13 and Friday, November 14, the performers stepped onto the stage again to packed audiences. The Assembly Room was filled to the brim with family, friends and PC, ready to cheer on the MS students, who delivered the scenes with humor, poise and strong ensemble numbers. Iconic lyrics like, “Tomorrow, tomorrow! I love ya tomorrow! You're always a day away!” filled the AR with guests tapping along to the music from the live piano accompaniment. The audience was awestruck by the professionalism of the performers — their energy, enthusiasm and stage presence lit up the room!
Congratulations to the entire cast and crew of Annie Jr. on an incredible production!
Browse more photos of Annie Jr. HERE. (Click on the brackets in the upper right corner to view the photos in full resolution.)
Midsummer Night’s Dream
In this year’s US Fall Play, our Upper School thespians dazzled in their rendition of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” which follows star-crossed lovers into an enchanted wood. Caught in the midst of fairy magic in the forest, a comedy of errors ensues for these characters. In the words of Shakespeare’s mischievous fairy, Puck, “Lord, what fools these mortals be!”
Chapin’s young actors blossomed in their Shakespearian roles. Their dedication shone in every aspect of the show, from dramatic speeches to uproarious comedic delivery. Each performer’s command of their character and craft was engaging, beguiling and sprightly. Their mastery of Shakespeare’s notoriously tricky soliloquies was particularly impressive.
Their performances during the three-day run thoroughly amused a full house each night. The students’ interpretation brought the house to tears — of laughter, with not a single audience member able to hold back their laughter and enjoyment for the show. After taking their final bow on Saturday, November 22, it was clear that their wit, commitment to character and command of the stage had successfully enchanted all in Chapin’s Black Box Theater. Bravo to the cast and crew of this wonderful production.
We can’t wait to see the talent and dedication of our Middle and Upper School students again in their upcoming shows!
Browse more photos of Midsummer Night’s Dream HERE. (Click on the brackets in the upper right corner to view the photos in full resolution.)
Annie Jr. Cast and Crew
Cast: Nathalia Alleyne, Sarah Berger, Charlize Bittner, Margot Bardeen, Zelda Cohen, Zoe Cong, Everly Cummings, Amelia Daspin, Lalitha Duvvuri, Dahlia Goldin, Cameron Gough, Aurora Hong-Freeman, YeYe Johnson, Charlotte Kim, Max Lack, Fiona Lee, Jemma Lynch, Matilda McElhoe, Camila Mercado, Grace Miller, Alexandria Nandi, Sophia Ng, Scarlett Paull, Sammii Pinzón, Aria Prasad, Beatrice Pressman, Madeleine Ratcliffe, Minnie Rose, Chelsea Rovzar, Beazie Saint-Amand, Charlotte Traphagen and Keya Upadhyaya
Light Board Operator: Haley Zhang
Run Crew: Lucy Corcoran, Nina Murray, Cadence Sewell and Olivia Song
Costume Crew: Samantha Hung and Courtney Pellegrino
Build Crew: Nora Adekoye, Lucy Corcoran, Cel Deaton, Georgia Steib, Jade Mena, Emma Moreau, Nina Murray, Tabitha Orange, Julia Ropiak-Emmanuel, Cadence Sewell, Olivia Song, Lucia Villegas-Vernet and Haley Zhang
Midsummer Night’s Dream Cast and Crew
Cast: Lexi Blackston, Serena Cattani, Jojo Charles, Isabel Emrich, Zoe Jones, Sanaya Kardar, Lola Lee, Giana Manning-Gold, Claudia Morcate-Martin, Emma Moreau, Evie Mujica, Axya Ofosu-Mensah, Matilda Party, Julia Ropiak, Emma Sawabini, Raidah Shahriar and Xi Shillingford
Run Crew: Nora Adekoye, CB Black, Samantha Ko, Jade Mena, Aleah Rosenberg , Zoya Sanchez and Lucia Villegas-Vernet
Costume Crew: Samaira Chhabra, Francine Joerg and Geo Murray
Build Crew: Nora Adekoye, Lucy Corcoran, Cel Deaton, Georgia Steib, Jade Mena , Emma Moreau, Nina Murray , Tabitha Orange, Julia Ropiak-Emmanuel, Cadence Sewell, Olivia Song, Lucia Villegas-Vernet and Haley Zhang