A new participation mandate requires all Upper School athletes to join the cast of the Dramatic Arts newest production of Shakespeare’s lost musical, A Musical I Doth Lost, causing leading artists like Dami Shote ’24 and Lauren Poprik ’24 to audition for roles alongside competitive athletes like Anthony Bugliari ’24 and Annabelle Mahoney ’24. When asked to comment on the exciting discovery of Shakespeare’s brilliant musical, which combines themes of Hamlet’s tortured soul with a tap dance number featuring feather boas, Anthony paused for a moment before quietly asking, “Is this even a real play?”
“This is a real play,” confirms the sleep deprived Head of Technical Theatre & Design Joseph Napolitano, fresh off another night of crafting a realistic set that calls for a castle in Denmark set next to a soccer pitch. “But I’m not going to speculate on what Shakespeare was thinking.”
For her part, Annabelle echoes Anthony’s enthusiasm. “I feel like Shakespeare wanted this play to stay lost.”
Yet students are determined to “emote” together, while they suffer the “slings and arrows” of outrageous misfortune from Pingry’s newest participation requirement. “I like acting, I guess,” says Asher Ziv ’24, no doubt containing his excitement.
“This is awesome,” says Trey Maultsby ’24, who has shown up to one rehearsal despite having the lead role.
With tickets selling fast and opening weekend nearly here, audiences are buzzing for this newly discovered work, which skips those big life and death questions of Hamlet in favor of the more immediate concerns of a young and hungry Shakesepare. Audiences are especially excited for the show’s hour long tap dance routine performed to the soliloquy, “To Brie, or Not to Brie.”
Dami expects audiences will be as surprised as he is. “I had no idea,” he says, a look of disbelief on his face, “that Shakespeare could be so bad.”
For tickets to the voluntarily required production of Shakespeare’s astonishing musical, My Astonishing Musical, click here.
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Photo by Flex photographer Aiden de Asla '24
Contact: Sally Courtney, Communications Writer