Fall Musical: Songs for a New World: October 27-29, 2023
On October 27-29, Choate students performed Songs For A New World in the Gelb Theater. The musical, written by Jason Robert Brown, consisted of 17 songs, with no dialogue and no concrete plot. Instead, the show featured a series of individual stories following the themes of love, loss, rebirth, and reconnection.
The show was directed by Arts teacher Mr. Bari Robinson, who created his own narrative for the musical: a story about three couples living in New York City.
The cast took away an abundance of new knowledge and skills from this unique artistic experience. “I learned how to bring a story into a song and how to bring purpose into each and every line, ” cast member Syna Mathod ’25 said. “Songs For A New World was just so fun becaue of how small the cast was … we were all so close.”
Music Concerts: Termly
Throughout all three terms, Choate hosted instrumental and choral concerts featuring musical groups on campus, including the Symphony Orchestra, Concert Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Festival Chorus, and Chamber Chorus. Conducted by Music Directors Mr. Gene Wie, Mr. Matthew Mclean, and Ms. Julie Hagen, a diverse range of repertoire was performed during the concerts, from 17th-century classics to 21st-century pop. Additionally, Choate hosted instrumental and choral recitals every term, allowing individual students who are passionate about music to perform pieces of their choosing. These performances showcased months of hard work and allowed community members to enjoy the musical talent on campus.
Mohamad Hafez Showcase: September 12-November 3, 2023
Artworks from internationally acclaimed artist and architect Mr. Mohamad Hafez’s collection, UNPACKED: Refugee Baggage, were on display at Choate in the Paul Mellon Arts Center from September 12 to November 3. The collection, which has been featured in top publications, uses found objects, paint, and scrap metal to create visual landscapes that highlight the stories of refugees who fled war-torn regions in the Middle East. Mr. Hafez used his cultural background as an Arab-Muslim artist to incorporate Islamic design, motifs, and patterns in his work. The exhibition aimed to communicate the complex reality of the human condition through art.
Puffs, A Magical Production: November 2-5, 2023
From November 2-5, Choate presented its fall theater production, Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic (Puffs) in the Little Theater. Directed by English and Arts teacher Mrs. Katherine Doak, Puffs was a twist on the famous story of a wizard school, chronicling a young student’s seven years of school at this magical place.
A lot of work was put into the crafting of Puffs’s set and props. Led by Technical Director Mr. Mark Gostomski and Arts teacher Ms. Deighna DeRiu, the inspiration for the set design came from Tudor-era buildings. Puffs proved to be an enchanting performance that community members enjoyed.
When asked about what made Puffs special, cast member Ryan Murray ’27 said, “What was really unique about it [the production] was it felt like the audience was able to make a connection to each character. ”
Student Choreographers’ Showcase: December 2-3, 2023
On December 2-3, the Student Choreographers’ Showcase (SCS), hosted by the Choate Dance Department, featured a diverse array of original student works. This year, for the first time, faculty choreographed works for students enrolled in Choate’s afternoon technique classes, such as Upper-level Contemporary and Ballet classes, were also performed.
Held inside the Dance Studio, the atmosphere of SCS was conducive for exploration, pushing students’ creative boundaries, and embodying the diverse dynamic of dance at Choate. It was an opportunity for student dancers to express their art form and for audience members to appreciate their hard work.
Student Directed Scenes: January 26-27, 2024
Student Directed Scenes (SDS) took place in the Gelb Theater on January 26-27. This series of short plays chosen and directed by members of the Honors Directing class represented the culmination of two terms of study.
The first term focused on the logistics of theater production, where students were tasked with directing excerpts from Shakespeare’s Hamlet; the actual rehearsals for SDS began in the winter. The directors and their respective plays included: Leanne La ’26 with The Future of Sincerity, Andra Ionescu ’24 with Murder by Midnight, Qin Caldwell ’24 with Because the World Needs Unicorns, Nick Rubino ’24 with A Tale of Two Spectators, and Grace Walters ’24 with Midnight Cafe.
A Modern Odyssey: February 16-18, 2024
This year’s winter production on the PMAC Little Theater stage was Anon(ymous) by playwright Naomi Izuka.
Directed by Arts teacher Mr. Bari Robinson and inspired by Homer’s The Odyssey, Anon(ymous) tells the story of a young refugee traveling across the United States in hopes of finding her mother.
The performance garnered positive feedback from the community, and the humanity of the characters in the play’s poetry allowed the audience to see themselves reflected on stage.
Student Creativity Takes Center Stage: February 8-9, 2024
This year, Choate hosted its 12th annual Fringe Festival on February 8-9, featuring four original plays written, directed, and performed by students. The event also showed a selection of films and spoken word performances.
This year’s plays were Everybody Talks by Tristin Hurst ’24, The Writer by Harper Marsden-Uren ’26, Family Reunion by Lorraine Hillgen-Santa ’24 and Talk to the Wall by Max Leventon ’25. They were directed by Eve Stanley ’24, Chelsea Branch ’25, Evelyn Kim ’25, and Tristin Hurst ’24 respectively.
An enjoyable and rewarding experience for both audience members and performers, the annual Fringe Festival gave students an opportunity to explore their artistic abilities regardless of their level of experience.
Dance Concert Delights: March 12-14, 2024
On March 22-24, Choate’s annual Dance Concert showcased 16 pieces choreographed by students and faculty and performed by the Dance Company, Step Squad, Hip-Hop Club, and SYNK in the Little Theater.
As the dancers and choreographers watched the concert unfold, they cheered each other on from the wings backstage and helped each other with quick costume changes.
The concert was an opportunity for students to share their talents, and the performance was the result of all the hard work put in by all members of Choate’s dance community, leaving audience members in awe.
A Spellbinding Act: May 16-18, 2024
On May 16-18, Choate presented its spring musical, Into the Woods, in the Little Theater. The musical is a mashup of multiple traditional fairytales, beloved by many worldwide. Directed by Arts teacher Ms. Deighna DeRiu, this modern classic follows a baker and his wife who set off on a journey to break a spell. Along the way, they meet fairytale characters such as Cinderella, Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk, and Little Red Riding Hood.
Into the Woods was the culmination of persistence, creativity, and dedication from the students and faculty involved, and they were rewarded with a full house during their May 17 performance.
