Arts News

What’s new, and what’s coming up, in the Arts.

This past week:

• Every spring, the Middle School performs a musical as part of the students' third trimester activity period. Middle schoolers interested in the theatre can sign up for a Theatre Tech Design class or a Musical Performance class. This year, they are designing and performing Moana Jr. There are about 27 design students, led by Joseph Napolitano, and 26 performing students under the direction of Patricia Wheeler and Music Director Tina Atkinson.
  • The performance class recently held a musical rehearsal with live music in the Macrae Theatre.

 

 

 

• And on Earth Day 2024, the K-2 Art/Science Team brought in visual artist Vaughn Spann, father of second grader Harper Spann. He taught us about his botanical series Strange Bloom 01-10.  We were mesmerized with his description of his artistic process and how he found personal connections to the plants. He encouraged our students to show their own unique perceptions of the plants in their artwork. This wonderful opportunity supported the art/science collaborative unit on artist/scientist George Washington Carver. The students were in awe of our giant conservatory still-life set up for curiosity, wonder, observation, research and drawing from life. The second graders will be working on their own series of botanical drawings and paintings, developing their abilities to render in detail what they are observing as well as expressing their personal views of the plants. In addition, the students will conduct research about parts of plants and plant identification.  We hope to increase awareness of the natural world and wellness with exposure to plants and nature.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coming up:

 

• Taiko Drumming will be performing for the Upper School on April 30, followed by a performance at the Lower School on May 1. Be sure to catch their upcoming performance at Celebrate Pingry!

 

• And on April 24, the Pingry Drama Department students and Winter Musical students will take a trip to the Bucks County Theater Festival, a regional theater festival where students will have the opportunity to perform for judges, attend workshops, and watch other schools' performances. Below is information about the students performances:
  • The Play Production Class will perform a 20-minute scene from their senior show Steel Magnolias
  • The Cast of Into the Woods will also perform 20-minutes of material from the Winter Musical
  • Crew members will help with the set-up, lights, and sound during the performances

 

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Contact: Sara Courtney, Communications Writer