After only a month of preparation, musicians, singers, actors, and dancers will take the stage to share their artistic talents with the audience. This Friday, Parents’ Weekend, the Deerfield community will gather in the large auditorium to experience the world of the performing arts.
Short arrangements by the chorus, band, chamber groups, and orchestra will start the showcase. Rachel Fletcher-Slater ’12, pianist and xylophonist for the wind ensemble, commented on the short preparation time: “Everyone in the ensemble sight reads very well, so learning the music came fairly easy to us. It also helps when you play fun pieces like ‘Crazy’ by Gnarls Barkley.”
Next to perform are the actors from advanced acting tutorial. Some actors will be at speech or debating events, or in Thailand for a Round Square trip, but Director of Theater John Reese said, “Since we have an amazing group of actors, I’m confident they will thoroughly entertain our audience.”
The class has prepared several short comedic scenes, including a monologue by Mia Fowler ’11. “I’m super excited! This will be the first time my parents will see me perform a monologue,” Fowler exclaimed. The material is as good as the presentation, and Fowler found her monologue to be “so funny and cute that I was able to memorize it all on my own in less than week.”
To close the night, dancers will display the wide range of styles offered by Deerfield’s dance program. “We will present five dances created by four professional choreographers and one student, Nina Shevzov-Zebrun ’12,” commented Jennifer Whitcomb, director of dance and department chair of the Visual and Performing Arts.
Similar to the music department headed under Mr. Roihl, the dance department is on the brink of a new era with two new talented teachers, Crystal Nilsson and Stephanie Shumway. Ms. Whitcomb is pleased to showcase Deerfield’s “talented dancers at one of the first major events of the year.”
The Fall Performing Arts Showcase will begin at 7:15 p.m. on October 15. Come enjoy an amazing night of music, theatre and dance!